‘So my immediate problem, quite apart from finding the bastard, is calling what to do about this final graduation.’ Mel stirs the cocoa into the coffee. ‘The university wants to know what to announce. They’ve cancelled the two ceremonies which were supposed to be this week, but we expect to release the cathedral from forensics early next week so they want to know if they should go ahead with next Friday’s ceremony which is the last of the year. My call apparently.’
‘You mean the chancellor doesn’t want it on her shoulders.’
‘Something like that. Quite apart from public confidence, there’s a lot of money at stake. Hotel bookings and so on. Maidstead tourism bosses are panicking. Everyone’s looking to us to buoy confidence and wrap this up. You know how rare shootings are outside of drug crime. Let alone at a major event . . .’
‘OK. So where are you on the forensics?’
‘Your guess was right. The gun was fired up in that balcony. A handgun with a silencer’s the best assumption from all the video footage we’ve reviewed. Just one bullet into the girl’s leg. We’ve recovered the bullet but it’s not giving a lot away.’
‘And the sweep of the balcony?’
‘Unhelpful. Lots of people went up there to take pictures before the ceremony. A million footprints and fingerprints and no matches to anyone on our systems yet.’
‘What about the exit path for the shooter? Anything on the footage?’
‘No. There’s an easy exit from the balcony. A staircase to the lower corridor with a small side door straight outside. It’s tucked away – a bit like the door you used to get in on the other side. Usually locked. Sometimes left open on the quiet for staff which was the case during the ceremony. No CCTV nearby.’
‘OK. Not good.’ He lets out a long, slow breath. ‘So – motive. What are you thinking? Is this personal – to Gemma or the university or the cathedral – or just some lone lunatic?’
‘I honestly have no idea.’ Mel frowns as if weighing something up. She goes to say something but then changes her mind, sipping at her drink.
‘Come on, Mel. You called me so spit it out. You know you can trust me. And like it or not, I’m sort of involved . . .’
‘The victim’s pregnant, Matt. Parents didn’t know. I think her friends may be hiding something. She’d recently broken up with her boyfriend. He’s on my list obviously. Been questioned but nothing on him so far. Word is he fled early on and we’re still checking that against the footage.’
‘Right. Jeez. So do we know for sure who the father is?’
She shakes her head as the waitress places down their cakes and they again wait for her to retreat out of earshot.
‘Not yet. But we both know the pregnancy’s going to come out, Matt. Next round of questioning, it’s bound to leak. Her parents are dreading it.’
‘Yeah. Tough on them – but we can’t help that.’ He watches her scoop some of the topping from the carrot cake on to her fork and suck it, the pleasure of the sweetness lighting up her eyes for just a moment.
‘Anything from her phone and laptop yet? And what about a diary or blog? She studied English, didn’t she? A writer. Could be a diary?’
‘Apparently not. We’ve checked her flat and her mother said she didn’t keep one. Her phone’s locked so we don’t have full access yet. First scan of laptop hasn’t found anything yet. We’ve put in the request for social-media access but you know how slow that is. My team’s going through the phone-company records, checking all the numbers. Popular girl. It’s a long list.’
‘And this is all assuming she was a deliberate target. What about the university or the cathedral? Anyone sacked recently? Anyone with a grudge? Any known weirdos hang out at the cathedral? Local gun clubs? Any religious protests?’
‘Are you sure you won’t just come back on my bloody team, Matt? It would make my life so much easier.’
He half laughs. Then he feels his expression change and watches Mel’s change too. A lifetime ago they trained together. Worked together. When he left the police force over a difficult case – a child’s death – Mel said he was making a big mistake and she was probably right. But he won’t go back. Too late to turn back now . . .
‘So weird that you were in the city, Matt.’
There’s a long pause.
‘What is it?’
‘Sal’s not very happy with me. For diving in.’