washed away all the evidence. The casket was tightly sealed so hopefully we’ll find something in it that can help. We have the bell and the string too. After we’ve photographed everything, we’ll start filling evidence bags.’
Gina’s shoulders slumped. It wasn’t ideal weather for collecting evidence. It was more likely to be blown away and sloshed down the River Arrow than sent to the lab. ‘Don’t let me stop you. Have you got any forensics suits?’
He pointed to where the light stand was. ‘Over there in the plastic box.’
‘I’ll see you in a moment.’ She glanced back at Jacob. ‘We best take a look. At the very least, I wouldn’t mind seeing who’s in the coffin. We can run the description through missing persons if there are no visible clues to their identity.’
As they pushed through the shrubbery, almost sliding as they hurried towards the lights, Gina glanced around. They were between what she’d always referred to as the wealthier end of Cleevesford and the town centre. Wealthier as the housing estates backed onto this particular area were all privately owned houses, mostly large and detached. The woods eventually came out at the back of the church where anyone walking would then arrive at the top end of the high street. In the midst of the estate there was a country club with vast amounts of land. Whoever chose this spot, knew it was a quiet one. A person could easily dig a hole that was surrounded by bushes without being disturbed. It was far enough away from the houses and the town and, most of all, prying people. With the weather being unpredictable, even dog walkers had stayed away. ‘You know. There’s a high chance that whoever is in that coffin was murdered here.’
‘Here?’ Jacob waited for more as she pulled the forensics suit over her sodden clothes. He pulled out a tissue and wiped the rain from his eyes and nose.
‘There’s nowhere to park close by. You’d never get a car here. The closest parking place is at the roadside to my right and that would take several minutes to walk through the thickets. It would be hard for one person to navigate their way through, let alone if they were dragging a body or a casket. I’ve just had a fair walk from the main road where the ambulance is parked. It took me ten minutes and that route is easier. It’s the route most people take when they’re walking to town. Imagine carrying a coffin and or a body all this way.’
‘Maybe whoever did this used some sort of trolley.’
‘Best to keep an open mind. I don’t think we’ll find the answers to that one here, looking at how soggy the ground is.’ She looked down. If someone had parked up and used some sort of trolley to put the coffin and the body into place, any tracks in the earth would be long washed away after tonight.
‘Jake.’ Jennifer called him over and smiled at Gina. ‘Step on the plates.’ They hurried across, clunking on the metal plates and Jacob looked like he was about to instinctively kiss her, but then he stepped back. They’d been a solid couple for a while now. Her white forensics suit swamped her.
‘Jennifer. How’s it going? Dinner’s ruined.’ Jacob swiped the rain from his eyes and smiled at her.
‘You mean another dinner’s ruined. We should be used to it by now.’ She gave him a little laugh and brushed her fringe back under her hood. ‘Well, tents up. I just hope it holds. We have the casket open if you want to step inside.’
Jacob stood back and waited for Gina to step in. She stood before the shallow grave.
‘We’ve started boxing the soil as you can see.’ Jennifer placed her hands by her sides.
Another crime scene investigator nudged through the tiny gap and he began taking photos.
Gina pulled a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose, noting that the sensation in her fingertips was barely in existence, especially through the gloves. ‘Can you get those emailed over to me as soon as you can?’
The man smiled and nodded before continuing to zoom in on everything. Flashes filled the tent as photo after photo was taken.
Gina bent over a little and squinted in the poor light to see the body. A hoodie was tied up at the neck and pulled over the victim’s eyes. His stiff fingers were clasped around something she couldn’t see. She gazed further into the box