From behind the cupboard door, Kate heard the approaching voices grow louder. ‘It’s not that I don’t appreciate your faith in me, Guv, but I thought you wanted me watching the security feed.’

The lab doors swung open as Underhill breezed in with Laura in tow. ‘I’ve pulled in a uniform to do that shit. You’re better than that, Trotter, and I thought it would be good for you to work alongside an experienced detective like me, so you can learn a thing or two.’

‘With respect, Guv, I’m learning a lot with DI Matthews.’

He paused and Kate could just imagine the frown lines crinkling around his eyes. ‘What you don’t understand is that all the time you’re thinking she’s helping you, she isn’t. This job can be… political. You understand? She’s a maverick, not a role model. Am I making myself clear?’

Opening the door a fraction, she glanced through the small gap, just about able to see them waiting by the slab at the far end of the room.

‘I think I understand, Guv,’ Laura said, unconvincingly.

‘So, while she’s out of action, you’ve got the opportunity to work with someone who knows how to get the job done the right way. Leading a team requires more than just acting on gut instinct. You need to give clear direction too, but I haven’t seen her doing that with you, Trotter.’

‘Sir, actually, I think you’ll find—’

‘It’s admirable that you stick up for her, but it’s time to face facts: you won’t realise your full potential with DI Matthews holding you back.’

Kate shifted her position, causing a small box to clatter to the floor. She held her breath as Laura and Underhill looked in her direction. Kate had never been so relieved to hear Ben whistling as he returned to the lab.

‘I found some,’ he called out. ‘Sorry, I had to go to the storeroom to get…’ He halted when he saw the two new visitors. ‘Oh… you’re not…’

Laura was the first to speak, obviously sensing something wasn’t quite right and covering capably. ‘Sorry, the Guv asked me to tag along. Do you think you could fetch me a pair too?’

Ben returned a moment later, tossing a second packet of scrubs to Underhill. ‘I take it you’re here about—’

Underhill tore open the cellophane packet. ‘The victim from the boot. Have you finished the post-mortem yet?’

‘Uh… so you’re heading this one up then?’ Ben asked, his voice thick with realisation.

Underhill cracked his knuckles. ‘Yeah, I’m SIO.’

‘I was just about to stitch her up when I heard you coming. If you slip those on and come with me, I can talk you through my preliminary findings.’

Kate heard Ben snap on vinyl gloves. ‘Our victim is in her early twenties, hair colour is peroxide blonde, though originally much darker judging by her body hair. She’s five feet four, weighing 120 lbs, which is healthy for her age. A non-smoker. There are scars on her arms – historic drug use – but nothing recent. I also found a tattoo of Chinese symbols on her shoulder.’ He lifted the body slightly so they could see.

‘Copy those down,’ Underhill instructed Laura. ‘Any idea what the symbols mean?’

‘No clue, I’m afraid,’ Ben confirmed solemnly. ‘I can tell you that they were inked at least a year before death, judging by the penetration of the skin.’

‘Thanks, I’ll follow up on it, Guv,’ Laura confirmed.

Through the gap, Kate saw Ben raise the body higher. ‘She suffered a blow at the base of the head, but that isn’t what killed her. I’d say you’re looking for an object with a large flat surface. Something like a cricket bat, perhaps. You can see the bruising around the neck and shoulders, but it was delivered pre-death.’

Kate heard Underhill take a step backwards, and she suppressed a small laugh. Underhill’s weak stomach was notorious in the unit, and she could imagine how green he’d be looking about now.

Ben returned the body to the slab and lowered the white sheet. ‘I’ve sent her bloods off for testing, but at this stage I believe cause of death was suffocation. The pupils were dilated and bloodshot.’ He raised one of the victim’s eyelids for them to see.

Underhill shuffled further backwards.

‘I didn’t find anything trapped in her airway to confirm the cause of the suffocation, but there was sufficient strain on the lungs to indicate this was the likely cause. I also found markings around the neck, consistent with something being pressed hard or pulled against the skin.’ He pointed at the marks with his finger. ‘The skin isn’t broken, so she wasn’t strangled or garrotted. Until the bloods come back, I’d presume a bag of some kind was pulled or held over her face.’

Laura asked the question on Kate’s mind. ‘Were there any signs of struggle?’

‘I didn’t find anything significant beneath the nails, but I’ve sent cuttings for analysis regardless. Due to the nature of the blow to the back of the head, it’s possible she wasn’t fully conscious when the bag was pulled over her.’

Underhill cleared his throat. ‘That’s great, doc. Thanks. Trotter, shall we go?’

Ben raised his hand. ‘Hold on, I haven’t finished yet. There’s more.’

He pulled back the sheet to expose the victim’s legs and lower body. ‘There is significant bruising around the abdomen consistent with beating. I found a slight imprint of a boot, which I’ve photographed and forwarded to SSD. It’s not a full print unfortunately, but they may be able to narrow down the make from the tread.’

‘It looks like he went to town on her,’ Laura remarked.

Ben was nodding as he spoke. ‘There was internal haemorrhaging, which suggests a pretty brutal attack.’

‘Crime of passion?’

‘Possibly. It was definitely aggressive.’

‘And the person who delivered the beating was also our killer?’

‘The two attacks occurred very close time-wise, so that’s a fair assumption, but not to be presumed.’

Kate was relieved Laura didn’t avoid the next question. She had trained her well. ‘Any sign of sexual assault?’

‘Interestingly, no. There is partial bruising at the top of the thighs, suggesting the victim was curled in a ball when the beating was initiated, but there’s no evidence of penetrative intercourse.’

‘And time of death?’

‘Rigor was still present when she arrived, but was in the latter stages. I would estimate TOD as late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.’

Laura was still scribbling notes in her pad as Underhill made towards the swing doors, stopping by the air-conditioning unit in the ceiling to take several deep breaths before turning to face the others.

‘Trotter, I want you to find out what her tattoo means and chase up SSD about her fingerprints and DNA. I don’t want us wasting time trying to identify her. I want to know who her boyfriend, husband or partner was. I want to know who had it in for her, and why they decided to leave her locked in a boot.’

Laura jotted his requests down as he quickly removed his scrubs. She looked up. ‘I just want to check something else with the pathologist. Shall I meet you in the car park?’

He nodded, pushing the doors open and charging out.

Laura walked purposefully over to the cupboard and pulled the door open. ‘Ma’am?’

Kate squeezed herself forward, relieved to be out of the narrow space but embarrassed to be caught out. She avoided eye contact with Ben, speaking directly to Laura. ‘How did you know I was in there?’

Laura pressed her foot up to the handbag that rested against one of the other slabs. ‘I recognised it as soon as we arrived. You’re lucky it’s me who caught you and not Underhill.’

‘Yes, well, I appreciate your discretion.’

‘Discretion? Ma’am, I can’t keep covering for you. The supe gave strict instructions that we weren’t to discuss any part of this case with you, and you’ve collared me twice in as many hours. I can’t risk losing my job.’

Ben’s mouth opened and closed, nonplussed.

Kate did her best to give him a look that said, I’ll explain later. She touched his arm gently for reassurance.

Laura turned back to face him. ‘Dr Temple? I had one more question for you. Was any jewellery discovered on the victim’s body when she arrived?’

Momentarily moving his eyes from Kate, he replied. ‘Um, as a matter of fact, yes. There was a diamond ring – low carat, but a diamond nonetheless – which I sent to SSD.’

She turned back to Kate. ‘Go home, ma’am – please,’ she said, turning on her heel and marching out of the lab before she had chance to respond.

Kate could feel Ben’s eyes on her as she leaned against a pillar. ‘Ben, I’m sor—’

‘I thought you said you were SIO on this case?’

‘I just asked for an update.’

All good humour was gone from his voice. ‘Cut the crap, Kate. What’s going on?’

‘All right,’ she finally sighed. ‘The truth is, the supe told me he doesn’t want me in the office until my ankle is healed.’

‘What else is going on, Kate?’

‘Nothing.’

He pointed an accusatory finger. ‘You’re not authorised to be in here. You’ll jeopardise the evidence. If anyone found out, the case would be kicked out of court.’

‘That’s not going to happen… Please, Ben, I just need to know. Let me see the body.’

He gave her a look that said she better be right. She reached out for him to say thank you, but he’d already turned and moved back to the slab. Picking up her crutches, she followed him over.

He pulled back the sheet and for a few cold heartbeats Kate was back in the South London mortuary, and she was staring down at the body of Amy Spencer. She shook her head, and the new victim’s face returned to the table. The pale skin clung to her slender frame, save for the patches of yellow and purple bruising around her torso. She couldn’t have been much older than twenty-two; such a tragic waste of life. ‘Do you think he meant to kill her?’

His mood was sullen. ‘I just deliver the facts, you have to piece them together.’

‘Please, Ben, help me get this clear in my mind. Walk me through the timing of the attacks. Do you think the blow to the head occurred before or after the abdominal beating?’

He sighed heavily. ‘I can’t say for certain which happened first. For the blow to be delivered and cause that kind of bruising, I’d say the victim was on her feet when he struck her. I just don’t think the angle and severity of the blow would be the same if she was already on the floor. I found slight abrasions on her hands, consistent with scraping on a hard surface, maybe in an effort to break a fall.’ He lowered himself to his hands and knees. ‘I think when she was down like this, he delivered a kick, as there was moderate bruising at the base of the ribcage.’ He mimicked falling, having been kicked. ‘This would leave her in a foetal-type position, allowing the subsequent kicking and punching to ensue.’

‘You mentioned a boot print?’

He pointed at his hip. ‘That was here, and was part of the attack.’

‘She would have been in agony about now, right?’

‘Absolutely, but the blow to the head may have dulled the senses.’

‘Tell me, had she not suffocated, would she have survived the other assaults?’

He considered her question. ‘Mmm… the blow to the head was significant. I found some trauma when I examined the brain. I can’t say for certain that the haemorrhage would have killed her straight away, but it may have led to a loss of consciousness as it developed. Had she been left with just the two beatings, it is possible that she may have died after several days, but it’s also possible that she might have survived. I really can’t say for certain.’

‘Is there any way to identify what type of bag was used?’

‘I can examine her skin beneath an ultraviolet light to see if any ink may have passed from the bag to her face, but if it was a plain polythene bag, there won’t be any way to identify it as far as I know. Maybe I could try speaking to SSD and see what they suggest.’

Kate paused, taking it all in. ‘Thanks, Ben. I really mean it, I know I don’t make things easy for you, but it means a lot.’ She looked at her watch, a little shocked by her own admission. ‘I better go call a taxi.’

‘If you give me half an hour, I can give you a lift home?’

‘Thanks, you’re sweet, but I’m not going home… Actually, what are you doing this afternoon? There’s somewhere I need to go and I could do with a little company.’

‘I’m done as soon as she’s back in the fridge. Where are you going?’

If she told him the truth he probably wouldn’t agree to take her. ‘I’ll tell you when we get there.’