‘Blimey, love, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just coming to make sure you’d found it all right.’
Realising it was the man she’d asked for directions, she let out a loud laugh.
‘Oh, my God. I’m so sorry, I got a little freaked out.’
He grinned. ‘I believe you. I probably should have sent you out to go via the main entrance instead of down here into the depths of hell.’
‘It is a bit like that, isn’t it? I watch too many ghost-hunting programmes on television.’
He caught up with her and carried on walking towards the double doors in the distance.
‘I realised you wouldn’t get in without a card.’ He waved his pass at her. ‘This place is ancient, but the security is pretty good. I don’t suppose the board want visitors stumbling into the mortuary. It’s not the nicest place to be.’
‘No, I don’t suppose it is.’
They reached the doors and he pressed his card onto the small electronic reader, then pushed the door, holding it open for her. She was right in the thick of the mortuary. Next to her was a bank of fridges that filled an entire wall along with a couple of examination tables.
‘Lucky for you the doc isn’t in the middle of a PM.’
The tall, blonde man she recognised as Declan, wearing a pair of blue scrubs, walked in, a clipboard under his arm and a pen tucked behind his wavy hair.
‘Lee, what you doing bringing people into my humble abode without an invitation?’
Morgan really wished she’d come the front way.
‘Sorry, Declan, she was looking for you. I didn’t think.’
Declan stared at her. ‘And you are?’
‘Morgan.’ She coughed. ‘PC Morgan Brookes; I’m working with Ben Matthews on the Potter murders. I was here the other day.’
She hoped she sounded more professional than she felt.
‘Ah, so you were, Morgan. I’ve a terrible memory for faces. Names, now, they always stick in my head. Cool.’ Turning to Lee, he waved. ‘You’re all forgiven, we’re good.’
Lee gave him a thumbs up and went back out the doors they’d just entered through.
‘How can I help?’
Declan led her out of the air-conditioned room which was so cold she was sure her fingers had frostbite. She followed him as they went into an office and he pointed to a chair which had seen better days. She sank down into it, realising it was actually quite comfy.
‘Ben said the tox reports showed GHB in the Potters’ results. I’ve just visited the girl who survived in ICU, and the nurse checked her notes; nothing showed up for her. I wondered if you knew why?’
‘Good question, Morgan, basically GHB is broken down by the body really fast. The detection window is short; it’s only detectable in the blood for up to eight hours and twelve hours in urine. It’s a central nervous system depressant also known as a date-rape drug, but you already know that bit, I imagine?’
She nodded; she knew some of it.
‘It’s highly potent and can be slipped into a drink or food unnoticed, which is why it’s so dangerous. The effects usually kick in after ten minutes of ingesting it and can last quite a few hours.’
‘So more than enough time to murder an entire family if they’d been given enough to render them unconscious?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘I still don’t understand how you found it in the Potters then. They weren’t found for at least twenty-four hours and Olivia’s post-mortem wasn’t until the next day.’
‘I took samples of femoral blood and vitreous humour, which came back positive. I can also send hair samples to be analysed, but the results were conclusive without the need for that.’
‘Wow, that’s clever. Does that mean if we take a sample of Bronte’s hair you could send that off to be tested to see if it was administered to her?’
‘I can, yes. Though it would have to be taken by a CSI and submitted to protect the chain of evidence. I would imagine if her family were given it then she would as well.’
‘Unless you killed them or were an accomplice to their murder, but the murderer turned on you… Sorry, just thinking out loud. Thank you, Declan, this is great. I’ll let Ben know.’
She stood up. When she reached the door she turned around. ‘Are you really good friends with Ben?’
‘I’d like to think so, why?’
Was this any of her business? Probably not and she didn’t know whether to divulge the information or not. Ben might be angry with her.