BLOOD STAINED an unputdownable crime thriller with a breathtaking twist (Detective Claudia Nunn Book by Rebecca Bradley (whitelam books .txt) 📗

He asked after the little girl and was informed she was being kept in overnight for observation but that his actions had very likely saved her life.

Chapter 17

Dominic

The team were in the office bright and early the next morning. It didn’t matter that it had been a late finish the night before. This was the start of a new job. Morale was still high and his team were raring to go, determined to bring a killer to justice. Dominic hoped they could do this. The killer was a brutal man and Dominic had a feeling after seeing Julie’s body that hers would not be the last. In fact he’d be surprised if she was the first. It was a dark way to start off if it was. He imagined that there would be a stack of smaller offences behind him and even a killing that was less dramatic, less savage.

They’d all heard about Dominic’s trip into the burning building as Ruth had sent a message to Kapoor, much to Dominic’s annoyance. But Ruth had wanted to make sure Kapoor was aware in case Dominic got into any difficulties with his breathing. Kapoor had informed the team.

Dominic hadn’t made a decision on whether he was going to talk about last night and now the choice had been taken out of his hands.

Rhys pushed a mug of coffee into his hand. Steam spiralled its way up to his nose and he was grateful for the drink and for the wake-up call. ‘Thanks, Rhys.’

‘You deserve more than a coffee, Dom, but unfortunately we’re at work, so it’s the least I can do.’ Rhys pushed another mug into Paul’s hands. He’d made drinks for their team this morning. Must have drawn the short straw.

‘Bit of a local hero this morning,’ said Paul. ‘Are we going to be seeing you in the paper this week?’

‘God, I hope not.’ Dominic was pleased his team were encouraging of his actions last night. His reputation meant a lot to him. ‘No one wants to see this ugly mug peering out at them.’

‘And how’s the little girl?’ asked Hayley.

Dominic scowled at them good-naturedly. ‘I notice none of you contradicted me about my devilishly handsome good looks.’

‘Of course we think you’re press-worthy.’ Hayley grinned at him.

‘We always need something to wrap our chips in,’ quipped Paul.

‘Just how old are you?’ Rhys played horrified. ‘You’ll have health and safety on your back if you wrap your chips in newspaper. Especially if it’s got the sarge’s mug printed on it.’

There was a howl of laughter round the room.

Hayley looked at Dominic again.

‘I called this morning. They won’t tell me much as I’m not family. But because I’m a police officer and the one who pulled her out of the building they were willing to tell me she was stable.’

Hayley smiled. ‘That must be a relief.’

‘Like you wouldn’t believe.’

At that point DI Adyant Kapoor walked into the incident room and they stopped talking immediately.

‘Morning, guys.’ Kapoor was bright regardless of the pressure he must have been under to resolve this case. No one wanted a murder on their patch, never mind a vicious stranger murder like this. Domestic murders were usually the kind they worked. The offender was picked up immediately and the case was worked and put to bed at a reasonable clip. This was different. Everyone knew it. No one had to say it.

There were murmurings of ‘morning’ in response.

Kapoor turned to Dominic. ‘How are you feeling this morning? Good to keep going?’

‘I’m fine. I’m quite annoyed at Ruth for contacting you, but that’s another story.’

Kapoor didn’t need telling twice. ‘Yesterday Julie Carver was found in Ecclesall Woods having been brutalised and her life taken from her.’ Kapoor had their attention. ‘We have no immediate leads and very soon the press will be breathing down our necks. I can’t hold them off indefinitely. You have a little leeway today, but after that be prepared for questions.’ He stared at them. ‘But I expect no one to talk. Do I make myself clear?’

Everyone nodded. They were a good team, not just his small part of the team, but the bigger murder inquiry team as a whole. They were good people and he would trust them with his life.

‘Okay,’ said Kapoor, ‘on that note, let’s look at what we have, shall we?’ He propped himself against a desk, one leg on the floor and one leg swinging as the corner of the desk held his weight.

‘First of all, for your information, this investigation is filed under the name Operation Halo. And yesterday afternoon a call came in that a dog walker had fallen over a body, and in doing so had contaminated the scene because he had literally fallen into the grave. CSU are assessing if he caused any damage.’

There was a light titter around the room at the thought of the clichéd dog walker finding the body, but it was a cliché for a reason. Bodies were left in the ground or out in the open in fields and woodland areas which was where dog walkers and joggers tended to frequent. They’d had more than their fair share of dead found by this group of people, but never before had they actually fallen into the scene and contaminated it.

‘DS Dominic Harrison and his team went out to the scene. What can you tell us about it, Dom?’

Dominic put his mug down, a tightness gripping his chest. He took a deep breath in and was rewarded with a fit of public coughing. ‘I’m so sorry about that,’ he said when he’d finished.

Kapoor was concerned. ‘Don’t worry about that. The important thing is, are you okay?’

Dominic hammered on his chest with his fist. ‘I’m fine. Just leftovers from last night, I’m afraid. Nothing to worry about. A bit