fatal dose of GHB; the levels in her results were much higher than the others.’
‘Then why hang her if she was already dead?’
‘Maybe whoever it was didn’t want to think they’d killed her. It made them feel better if they remembered her hanging; they couldn’t force themselves to beat her like the rest. Just a theory, by the way, but might as well throw it in there.’
Morgan was writing everything down. ‘Why feel guilty about her and not the others? I don’t get it. Or why not give them all a fatal dose?’
‘To be honest I can’t tell you that. What I can tell you is each victim had a different dosage of the drug in their system, which tells me that I don’t think the person who administered it had a bloody clue what they were doing. It was hit and miss.’
‘Maybe whoever it was had a burning hatred of Saul and Beatrix, yet not Olivia? And where does Bronte come into this? They didn’t hit her as hard as the other two; she survived.’
Morgan shrugged. ‘I think whoever did this loved Olivia far more than the others, which brings it back around to Barker. He was having an affair with her.’
Ben looked up. ‘Oh, he was definitely having an affair with her. I think that CCTV footage Morgan secured proved that beyond reasonable doubt. He admitted that before he clammed up and went “no comment”. Said why would he kill the woman he loved and her family. Taskforce are on the way to his house to search it and his car; hopefully they find something of forensic value.’
Declan sat on a desk next to Amy and they were whispering about something. Morgan looked away, her paranoia getting the better of her.
Ben stood up. ‘Right then, we need to find Harrison Wright. He might be able to tell us a lot more about this than he’s letting on, and do we have an update on Bronte? Life would be so much easier if we could talk to her.’
Declan held up his hand. ‘Actually, that’s why I’m here. I was passing and thought I’d give you the news.’
Morgan felt her heart drop to the bottom of her stomach; even though she didn’t know the girl she didn’t want her to be dead. She’d been rooting for her since she’d found her.
Declan continued. ‘The hair sample tested positive for GHB and she’s awake.’
Ben clapped and Amy let out a whoop of delight.
‘Bad news is, she isn’t speaking much. Can’t remember anything about what happened from what I can gather, although her consultant can tell you more. You can thank me later. Ben, you owe me a drink or two when this is sorted.’
Ben grinned at Declan. ‘I do, thank you. Come on, Amy, we need to get to the hospital and speak with Bronte.’
Morgan felt deflated. She’d wanted to be the one to speak to her and she hadn’t been given the chance. She turned away from everyone and wrote the information Declan had shared on the board.
Declan was still sitting there when she turned around. Everyone else had left.
‘You okay?’
‘Yes, thanks. Are you?’
‘Wonderful, how are you getting on with the O’Brien case?’
‘I have a couple of leads, but nothing concrete.’
‘Well that’s good, it’s not going to be easy; it’s old. You’re probably missing crucial evidence not to mention witnesses and suspects. Is there anything of forensic value that could be retested?’
She told him about the small square of carpet in the hall cupboard.
‘That’s great, it’s a start. You might get trace evidence back from it or if you do get a suspect there’s always a slim chance they might still have something with traces of the fibres on.
‘Hey, you know he likes you a lot. But he’s also a guilt-ridden, mixed-up workaholic. Give him a chance, sometimes he doesn’t see what’s in front of his nose. He’s too busy sorting out everyone else’s lives.’
Morgan laughed. ‘We’re not, well you know… It’s strictly a professional relationship.’
Declan nodded. ‘Might be better to keep it that way, at least until he comes to his senses. Not that it’s anything to do with me. I’m just an old romantic. I like to see people happy and I think Ben deserves a bit of happy. Wait until you see him cleaned up, when he’s had a shave and a decent haircut. He scrubs up quite well. Not sure the paunch is as easy to get rid of, but behind it he used to have a