Read Online Never Look Back by Clare Donoghue - Free Book Online Page B

having the baby ‘wasn’t an option’. There was still something about Walsh that didn’t seem quite right, though. He had been too emotional, almost over the top. Jane was running a full background check now. She agreed that Walsh seemed to have a strong influence over his staff that wasn’t quite ‘normal’.
    ‘You ready for me?’
    He looked up to see Phil Bathgate, their consultant forensic psychologist, leaning against the glass door. For someone whose job entailed putting himself into the mind of some seriously disturbed individuals, he had an oddly relaxed demeanour.
    ‘Sure. Take a seat . . . and shut the door,’ he said.
    Phil sat down and began adjusting his seat; higher, lower, tipped back. ‘Thirty million and they can’t afford decent chairs,’ he said, all but fighting with the chair.
    As Lockyer watched the performance he thought it was pretty obvious why the vast majority of the office thought Phil was a grade-A arse-wipe. ‘So, what do you have for me, Phil?’ he asked.
    With an exaggerated sigh and a roll of his eyes Phil gave up on the chair and took a blue ring binder out of his briefcase. He pulled out several sheets of paper and without speaking slid them across the table. ‘Well . . . the psychological and geographical profiles are really coming together. The third body has given me an excellent sense of the suspect’s motivations.’
    ‘I assume, when you say the “third body”, you’re referring to Deborah Stevens,’ he said, biting his tongue, already wishing this particular meeting was over. The sheer delight evident on Phil’s face wasn’t right. ‘Can you just run me through what you’ve got, Phil?’
    ‘Absolutely, that’s what I’m here for . . . no problemo.’ Phil smiled, oblivious to Lockyer’s mood. ‘I’ve approached the profile with four aspects in mind. Firstly, the antecedent, meaning the fantasy or plan the suspect had before the act, and what triggered his activities on those days and not others. Secondly, the method and manner of the murder. I think that’s self-explanatory. Thirdly, body disposal. Obviously, we know he didn’t transport his victims after their deaths but that in itself is interesting. And finally, post-offence behaviour. Is he following you? I mean to say, following the case, enjoying being part of such an exciting investigation.’ Phil took a deep breath and sat back. He looked delighted by his own brilliance.
    ‘This isn’t my first profile briefing,’ Lockyer said, rubbing his right eyebrow where a twitch was taking hold.
    ‘Naturally . . . I’ll talk you through the crime scenes and highlight where your man is speaking to you.’
    Lockyer decided to ignore the emphasis Phil placed on ‘your man’ and ‘speaking to you’. Instead he looked down at the first sheet of paper and scanned the details printed in tight black ink. Phoebe Atherton, the first victim, had been reduced to ten bullet points.
    Phil began reading them out. ‘The first victim was found at 14.00 hours at the edge of Camberwell New Cemetery; very significant.’
    ‘What? The time or the location?’ Lockyer asked.
    ‘Both. Dr Simpson put the time of death in the early hours of the morning. So, it’s fair to say he likes to work at night . . . the killer, that is . . . not Dave,’ Phil said, chuckling at his own poor attempt at humour. ‘The cemetery itself may represent the suspect’s mindset at the time of the attack. If this was his first victim . . . doubtful . . . but if it was, the cemetery would be a logical choice.’
    Lockyer turned his chair so he could stare at the whiteboard at the end of the room. Pictures and documents had been attached to it and interlinking arrows drawn on with a green marker pen. Somehow, the chaos of the board helped him concentrate and absorb Phil’s assertions without having to absorb Phil’s manner as well. ‘Go on,’ he said.
    ‘Of course . . . he may not have killed like this before but he will have