a matter of interest, sir?were any of the other houses in Fife Park searched?"
Lawson frowned. "I don't think so. Why?"
"It occurred to me that it happened during the university holidays. A lot of people would have already left for Christmas. There might well have been adjacent houses that were standing empty."
"They'd have been locked up. We'd have heard about it if anyone on Fife Park had reported a break-in."
"You know what students are like, sir. In and out of each other's places. It wouldn't be hard to come by a key. Besides, the four of them were in their final year. They could easily have kept a key from another house if they'd lived there previously."
Lawson gave Karen a shrewdly appreciative look. "It's a pity you weren't around for the original investigation. I don't think that line of inquiry was ever pursued. Too late now, of course. So, where are we up to on the exhibits search? Have you not finished it yet?"
"I had some time off over Christmas and New Year," she said defensively. "But I stayed late and finished it last night."
"So that's that, then? The physical evidence relating to Rosie Duff's murder has disappeared without trace?"
"So it would seem. The last person to access the box was DI Maclennan, a week before he died."
Lawson bridled. "You're not suggesting Barney Maclennan removed evidence from a live murder case?"
Karen backtracked hastily. She knew better than to cast aspersions on a fellow officer who had died a hero. "No, that's not what I meant at all, sir. I just meant that, whatever had happened to Rosie Duff's clothes, there's no official paper trail to follow."
He sighed again. "It likely happened years ago. They'll have ended up in the bucket. Honest to God, you have to wonder sometimes. Some of the people we get working for us?
"I suppose the other option is that the DI sent them off for further testing and either they never came back because he wasn't there to chase it up, or the package disappeared into a black hole because DI Maclennan wasn't there to take delivery," Karen suggested cautiously.
"I suppose it's an outside possibility. But, either way, you're not going to find them now." Lawson drummed his fingers on the desk. "Well, that's that, then. One cold case that's going to stay in the deep freeze. I'm not looking forward to telling the son, either. He's been on the phone every other day, asking how we're doing."
"I still can't believe the pathologist missed that she'd given birth," Karen said.
"At your age, I'd have said the same," Lawson admitted. "But he was an old man, and old men make stupid mistakes. I know that now, because I feel like I'm heading in that direction myself. You know, I sometimes wonder if this case has been jinxed from the start."
Karen could sense his disappointment. And she knew how that stung, because it matched her own feelings. "You don't think it's worth me having another crack at the witnesses? The four students?"
Lawson grimaced. "You'll have a job."
"How do you mean, sir?"
Lawson opened his desk drawer and produced a three-day-old copy of the Scotsman. It was folded open at the death notices. He pushed it toward her, his finger stabbing the newsprint.
KERR, DAVID MCKNIGHT. The death is announced of Dr. David Kerr, of Carden Grove, Bearsden, Glasgow, dearly beloved husband of He'd, brother of Lynn and son of Adam and Sheila Kerr of Duddingston Drive, Kirkcaldy. The funeral will take place on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Glasgow Crematorium, Western Necropolis, Tresta Road. Family flowers only.
Karen looked up, surprised. "He couldn't have been more than forty-six, forty-seven? That's pretty young to be dying."
"You should pay more attention to the news, Karen. The Glasgow University lecturer stabbed to death in his kitchen by a burglar last Thursday night?"
"That was our David Kerr? The one they called Mondo?"
Lawson nodded. "The crazy diamond himself. I spoke to the DI on the case on Monday. Just to make sure I was right. Apparently, they're far from convinced by the burglary theory. The wife was playing away."
Karen pulled a face. "Nasty."
"Very. So, do you fancy a wee run out to Glasgow this afternoon? I thought we could pay our last respects to one of our suspects."
"You think the other three will turn up?"
Lawson shrugged. "They were best pals, but that was twenty-five years ago. We'll just have to see, won't we? But I don't think we'll be conducting any interviews today. Let it lie for