‘Okay, guys, it’s been confirmed that Nat Mansell received twenty-nine stab wounds in total.’

She paused, waiting for some smart-arse comment about her popularity that would normally have come from Dawson.

There was silence.

‘As already noted, the majority of wounds were to her abdomen, which has to mean something, but I have no idea what,’ she admitted. ‘So, we have Cordell murdered, his son dead within twenty-four hours. Nat Mansell dead and her mother, but her mother was killed first. We think Nat Mansell and Cordell were having an affair and both were involved in the complaint against Angelo Mancini. So – ideas, people?’

‘Jealous spouse?’ Stacey asked.

‘Nat Mansell was divorced, and Mrs Cordell couldn’t have cared less,’ Kim answered. ‘As long as he kept it away from her house. And would anyone be jealous enough to murder a family member too?’ she asked.

‘Unlikely,’ Stacey said.

‘Ramon Salcido killed most of his family in 1989 when he thought his wife was having an affair,’ Penn voiced. ‘Took his three daughters to a dump site and slashed their throats. Killed his mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law and then went home and killed his wife.’

Kim knew the case. ‘But the jealousy was a delusion. He was on the verge of unemployment and divorce and had started using cocaine,’ she said, coolly. ‘Most people kill only the object of the jealousy or the person who is a threat and, very occasionally, both, but not normally the loved ones of both people involved in the affair. The only potential suspect in that scenario is Mrs Cordell, and it isn’t her.’

‘Did anyone else have anything to gain?’ Stacey asked.

‘Only the Mancinis as far as I know,’ Kim said. ‘Any luck on the registration number of that van?’ she asked.

‘Still working through them, boss, and trying to narrow them down geog—’

‘Okay, Penn, keep on it,’ she said. ‘Mancini was questioned yesterday and gave us nothing…’

‘Despite the boss’s best efforts,’ Bryant chirped up.

‘But we did establish that their alibis for each other concerning the murder window for Doctor Cordell were a crock of shite. Neighbour confirms they were not at home, and trust me, she knows.’

‘Oh yeah,’ Bryant ad-libbed again.

‘We got a match on fibres from Mrs Mansell’s lips and Cordell’s wound, so we have that forensic—’

‘Yeah, ain’t that a novelty?’ Bryant said.

Growing increasingly annoyed at his heckling, she turned to him. ‘Go on, Bryant. You clearly have something pressing to add.’

‘How many cases have we worked where we’ve had a direct link between victims from forensic evidence?’ he asked. ‘Looking a bit like CSI here.’

Despite her irritation at him she knew he was right. These trace evidence connections were few and far between. And yet she couldn’t bring herself to argue with science.

‘Bryant, gift horse and mouth is all I’m going to say, as well as Mitch is working round the clock and has come up trumps on this one.’

She turned back to Stacey and Penn.

‘Mitch should have emailed the details of the fibres, so get cracking on the manufacturer and who they supply the cleaning cloths to, though I think we know what they’re going to say. Hope to have something on the footprint later, but nothing on the hair until we have something to match it against. Everyone clear?’

A nod travelled around the room.

‘Okay, Stace, how’s your missing girl case?’

‘Getting weirder and weirder,’ she admitted. ‘Jessie Ryan is due to go into hospital today for exploratory heart surgery, which would make me wonder if she has run away because she’s scared, but her phone turned up in Emma Weston’s bedroom in a very clever and devious hiding place.’

‘And her explanation?’

‘Her mother was as shocked as I was and called her. Emma claims she didn’t know and that Jessie must have put it there.’

Kim frowned. ‘Stay on this, Stace. I’m not liking the sound of what I’m hearing. If we get nothing more today I’m gonna speak to Woody about a search team and a press appeal.’

Stacey nodded her understanding. ‘I think her parents would appreciate that, boss. They’re beside themselves with worry about her health, there’s no love lost between the two families, and I’m still a bit concerned about Emma’s history of violence.’ The constable took a breath. ‘Added to that, her absent father hasn’t been as absent as we thought and has been hiding her for a night on her previous disappearances. I’ve searched the house and don’t think she’s there but can’t be totally certain he doesn’t know more than he’s letting on. Only admitted that much because I caught him out in a lie, but Emma Weston and her mother are raising my hackles more.’

Kim nodded. ‘Keep the pressure on the girl. Especially if you think she knows—’

‘Sorry to interrupt, boss,’ Penn said, looking at his computer. His face creased into a smile.

‘What is it?’

‘It’s the Reeboks, boss. The footprint is a match.’