The Mermaids Singing Page 0,48

; Bite marks No No No No

NCP

NCP

CP

NCP :

Putative bite Yes Yes Yes Yes

RP

NRP

NRP

NRP

marks (i. e. , Personal Wedding Watch Signet ring, Watch flesh items ring, watch watch removed) missing?

Location of Neck (i) Neck (i) Neck (3) Neck (3) Items missing AnsweringAnsweringNone known None known marks Chest (i) Abdomen (4) Chest(i) from home?

machine tape machine tape Groin (4) Signs of Yes (see A) Yes (see B) Yes (see C) Yes (see D) torture or unusual assault^ body washing: No fragranced materials appear to have been used, suggesting that the offender is not using the washing process as a means of denial; rather, in line with the rest of his cautious behaviour, I suggest that this washing is intended to obliterate forensic clues, especially since the killer appears to have taken particular care with the fingernails. Scrapings on all four victims showed nothing except traces of un perfumed soap.

"ligatures: None were found on bodies, but postmortems reveal bruising consistent with handcuffs on wrists, slight traces of adhesive, missing hairs and bruising round ankles consonant both with parcel tape and with separate ligatures, and traces of adhesive on face around mouth. No traces of blindfolds.

A: Adam Scott. Dislocation of ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and several vertebrae. Consistent with being stretched on a rack.

Tentative postmortem cuts to penis and testicles.

B: Paul Gibbs. Severe lacerations to rectum, virtual destruction of anal sphincter and partial disembowelment. Suggestive of spiked object repeatedly inserted via anus. Also some burnt tissue internally, suggesting the possibility of heat or electric shock.

Face badly beaten before death; bruising, broken facial bones and teeth. Postmortem cuts to genitals, more pronounced than in A. C: Gareth Finnegan. Irregular pierce wounds to hands and feet, rfz" diameter approx. Lacerations to left cheek and nose, suggestive of glass or bottle being broken across face by right- handed assailant.

Shoulders dislocated. PPossible crucifixion? Postmortem wounds to genitals, virtually castrated. , D: Damien Connolly. Dislocations similar to A, but no major spinal trauma, ruling out the idea of a rack. Large number of small, star-shaped burns to torso. Penis severed postmortem and inserted in victim's mouth.

Query: Were Damien Connolly's handcuffs still in his home or police locker?

Query: Why are the bodies always dumped Monday night Tuesday morning?

What happens on Monday that allows him to be free? Does he work nights and have Monday off ? Is he perhaps a married man who has Monday free because his wife does things with friends, e. g. " girls' night out? Or is it that Monday isn't a traditional 'going out' night and he can be more sure of finding his victims at home?

Carol was aware that Tony had returned, but she carried on reading, simply raising one hand and waving her fingers to indicate she knew he was there. When she reached the end of the report, she took a deep breath and said,

"Well, Dr Hill, you have been busy."

Tony smiled and shrugged himself away from the doorjamb he'd been leaning against.

"I can't believe there's anything in there that you didn't already have filed neatly away in your head."

"No, but seeing it laid out like that somehow makes it clearer."

Tony nodded.

"He has a very specific type."

"Do you want to talk about it now?"

Tony looked down at the floor.

"I'd rather leave most of it for now.

I need to let it sink in, and I need to go through all the rest of the witness statements before I can think about a profile. "

Carol couldn't help feeling disappointed.

"I understand," was all she said.

Tony smiled.

"Were you expecting more?"

"Not really."

His smile broadened.

"Not even a smidgen?"

The smile was infectious. Carol grinned back.

"Hoping, maybe.

Expecting, no. By the way, there was one thing I didn't understand.

NCP? CP? NRP? I mean, we're not talking National Car Parks and the Communist Party here, are we? "

"No current partner. Current partner. No recent partner. Acronymitis.

It's the disease that afflicts all of us in the soft sciences like psychology, sociology. We have to mystify the uninitiated. Sorry about that. I try to keep things as jargon-free as possible. "

"So you don't confuse us thick plods, eh?" Carol teased.

"It's more about self-preservation. The last thing I want is to give the sceptics another big stick to hit me with. It's hard enough getting people to accept that my reports are even worth reading without alienating them with all that unnecessary pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo."

"I believe you," Carol said ironically.

"Shall we go?"

"Sure. There is one thing I would like to bounce off you now," Tony said, suddenly serious again.

"The victims. Everybody's assuming this killer