A Dark Matter Episode 49

Jenny moved her head and hands, exaggerated movements. “I’ll have you know I was just talking to your dad about you.” Hannah stopped at that. “And?” Jenny placed a finger to her lips and made a shushing sound. Hannah sighed. “I’ll put the kettle on,” Indy said. “Hannah.”

This was Dorothy standing in the workshop doorway. She had her phone in her hand and a look on her face that wasn’t good.

“What?” Hannah said.

Dorothy nodded at the phone. “It’s Thomas. The police have found Melanie. I mean they’ve found her body. I’m so sorry.”

HANNAH

The sun was bright and she hadn’t slept. The fact people were walking up and down Middle Meadow Walk as if nothing was wrong was an insult. How can everyone go about their business when the world has stopped? Hannah pinched the bridge of her nose and swallowed hard. She felt Indy rubbing her arm.

“Babes,” Indy said, voice full of hurt. Hannah could smell the coffee on the table in front of them, and the almond pastries.

“I can’t get over it,” she said.

“I know.”

“I thought she would turn up. I thought this was all a game, like she was playing hide-and-seek or something. I never thought…”

They’d been round and round it between them into the early hours lying in bed together. But they had nothing, which was why they were here. Thomas had agreed to meet them for breakfast and fill them in on the case. Hannah had passed over Mel’s parents’ number, and she was selfishly relieved she didn’t have to make that call.

She didn’t know how Indy or Gran ever got used to it with the funeral work, speaking to people in that moment of grief and shock. Dealing with death every day had to take its toll on your psyche, all that distress and emptiness and loss.

She saw Dorothy and Jenny walking from the park, sunglasses on, then she spotted Thomas appearing from between the uni buildings on George Square. She stood up and walked across the path without checking for cyclists. “Well?”

Thomas waved her back towards the cafe table. “I’m sorry.”

“Never mind that,” Hannah said. She was aware of Dorothy and Jenny arriving, Indy watching her with a cup in her hand. “I need to know details.”

“Please sit,” Thomas said, then indicated the other two. “All of you.”

They ordered tea and more things to eat, although Hannah wanted to slap the pastries off the table in disgust. “Where was she found?” “Hannah.” This was Jenny, hungover. “I need to know,” she said, turning on her mum.

“I promised Dorothy I would tell you all I know and I will,” Thomas said. “Melanie’s body was found at 7.40pm last night in the thick undergrowth at Craigmillar Park Golf Course.”

Hannah sat up. “That’s next to the James Clerk Maxwell Building.” Thomas nodded. “So it was probably Peter,” Hannah said. “Hang on,” Jenny said. “What about Bradley?”

“And Xander,” Indy said. Hannah frowned. “How was she killed?” “Initial signs suggest strangulation,” Thomas said. “Any sign of sexual assault?” Hannah said.

Jenny touched her head. “Hannah.” “What?”

Thomas shook his head. “No evidence of rape.”

“So what now?” Dorothy said, voice calm. Thomas waved a hand around the table. “We formally interview the people you’ve already spoken to.”

“What about forensics?” Hannah said. “There’s a team on the scene collecting evidence. Once they’re finished there, they’ll need to go through Melanie’s room in your flat. We’ll ask all our suspects for swabs, look for a match. Not just for crimescene evidence. There’s something else.”

Hannah felt a thrum in her fingers as if the Earth was trying to send her a message.

Thomas looked around the table then lowered his eyes.

“Melanie was pregnant.” Hannah was turning the key in the lock when her phone rang. She bundled through the door, Indy following behind, and looked at the screen. Vic. She stared at it for a long time then pressed answer as Indy disappeared into the kitchen.

“Have you heard?” Vic said. His voice was on the edge. “I’m so sorry, Vic.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“I know.”

A long gap. “She had a baby.” Vic was crying now. “Mum and Dad, my God, I don’t know how they’ll cope.”

“I’m so sorry.” Hannah could only think to keep saying the same thing over and over until the end of time.

“I need to find who did this,” Vic said. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

“Do the police know anything?” “They’re following leads.”

“What does that mean?” Hannah looked at the door to Mel’s room. She ran her finger along the wood. “We spoke to some people and passed our information on.”

“Tell me.”

“You can’t just bully them,” Hannah said. She thought about the slap she gave Peter’s wife. “You need to let the police handle it.”

“Is that what you did when you were investigating?”

“It’s different.” For the life of her, she couldn’t think how it was different.

Vic sighed, composing himself. “What about the second phone, did you find it?”

Hannah pushed open Mel’s bedroom door, the same layout of furniture, all her things still sitting where she left them. “No, I never did.”

“That’s the key,” Vic said.

“I don’t know.”

Vic was in tears again, his voice a ragged mess. “Just find out,” he said, sobbing. “Please find out who killed my sister.”

Hannah stared at Mel’s bed, her desk and wardrobe. “I will,” she said.

She hung up and stood in Mel’s doorway. Then she heard something coming from the kitchen. Crying.

I thought she would turn up. I thought this was all a game, like she was playing hide-and-seek or something

A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone is published by Orenda Books, as is Black Hearts, his latest in the same series. orendabooks.co.uk