“Why didn’t the police link these murders?” asked Kate.
“I don’t have the answer for that.”
They were silent for a moment.
“From 1998 to 2002, four bodies were found,” said Tristan. “This is a serial killer.”
“Are you able to open out the search? I only specified from 1998 to 2002. There could be other unidentified bodies,” said Kate.
“Thanks to your information, the police are now looking at these four murders in connection with the death of Hayden Oakley, and they’ll be opening up the investigation to look at unidentified deaths before 1998,” said Alan. “I’m afraid, though, that these are no longer cold cases, and I can’t share any of the case files with you. They are now active police investigations. I was given permission to call you by the police officer who will be taking charge of this, a DCI Faye Stubbs. She asked me for your details, and she’ll be in touch. Well done, you two.”
“That’s incredible,” said Tristan when they came off the phone call. “We’ve helped find David and Gabe; Jorge is alive . . . We weren’t imagining things. Joanna Duncan wrote down their names for a reason. Do you think she knew that there was a multiple murderer doing this?”
“I wish we could find out. We don’t have her computer or any of her notes from work,” said Kate.
“This means we’re going in the right direction,” said Tristan.
“But now the results of our hard work are being handed over to the police.”
Kate’s phone rang again. It was an Exeter landline number. When she answered, a woman introduced herself as DCI Faye Stubbs.
“I got your number from Alan Hexham, our regional coroner. I understand you’re a private detective?” she said.
“Yes, we’ve just spoken to him,” said Kate.
“We?”
“Myself and my associate, Tristan Harper. I’ve got you on speakerphone.”
“Hi,” said Tristan.
Faye ignored him and carried on talking. “I understand that you’ve been given access to case files from the Joanna Duncan case?” she asked. Her voice was now a little less friendly.
Shit, mouthed Tristan.
“Yes, that’s correct,” said Kate.
“Right. Are you aware that these case files are property of the Devon and Cornwall police? And that we keep records for a reason?”
Kate felt the floor drop underneath her.
“Of course. We understood that we were allowed access to them.”
“And who in Devon and Cornwall police told you that?”
“I didn’t get the case files from the police. Our client was given access to them by a senior police officer, Superintendent Allen Cowen. I have a signed letter from Superintendent Allen Cowen stating this. We were told that we could view the cold case materials, as the Joanna Duncan case is now dormant.”
“Well, things are changing fast,” said Faye.
“Are you reopening the case?”
“No. I didn’t say that. Okay, your client is Bill Norris, yes?”
“Yes.”
“He tells me that you have the original case files in your possession. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” said Kate. The tone of DCI Stubbs’s voice was making her feel like a naughty schoolgirl.
“Did you make copies?”
Shit, mouthed Kate to herself. This was a gray area. A private detective could operate within this gray area, but crossing the line to breaking the law wasn’t something that she was prepared to do. Shit, she mouthed again.
“Paper copies?” asked Tristan.
“That’s what copies usually are,” said Faye.
“No. We just have the original paper files.”
“Right, I’ll need to arrange to come and collect them from you.”
“Listen, Faye—may I call you Faye?” asked Kate.
“Of course.”
“I’m an ex–police officer, and I understood that we were operating within the law. Of course we’ll cooperate fully with you.”
Faye’s tone grew lighter.
“Kate, I’m not phoning you to give you a bollocking. You’ve given us a breakthrough on a murder case and three other unsolved murders. But considering this, things have changed. I have to follow procedure now that this has become active.”
“Are you also reopening the Joanna Duncan case?”
Faye sighed. “It looks like it, yes. When can I arrange to collect the case file materials? Is first thing tomorrow morning acceptable?”