Devil in the Detail A.J. Cross (read full novel .TXT) 📖

‘I shall be when the hospital confirms that she is sufficiently recovered.’

They left the office and took the stairs to the incident room. As they came inside, Watts picked up smiles, nods, hands raised to Traynor, who acknowledged their greetings by raising the slim folder he was holding then standing to one side. Watts faced his team.

‘I’ve just delivered a very brief statement to the press. Brief, because there’s not much to tell them. As soon as we know that Molly Lawrence’s release from hospital is imminent, she’ll have round-the-clock protection at her home.’ That got frowns from several officers. Nobody welcomed that kind of assignment. Tough. It had to be done.

‘No forensic results yet. The poor-quality partial print on the watch that was dropped at the scene, property of Michael Lawrence, looks to be of questionable usefulness, but the watch itself will be tested for DNA which as always is going to take a while. So far, nothing to report on the weapon and bullets used. As we’re beyond the first forty-eight hours with no identified suspect, the glass fragments from the Lawrences’ car window are looking increasingly irrelevant for matching purposes. Two shots were heard at around nine twenty, nine thirty p.m. by the owner and his security worker inside a nearby convenience store. Given the ten thirty-five p.m. emergency call you’ve all listened to, that timing looks to be a bit early, but we’ll bear it in mind. Molly did tell Judd that she couldn’t move, and so it took her a long time to make the call.’ He checked his notes. ‘An inner-city gym owner has given a possible name for the carjacking series: Jonah Budd. Budd has done time for similar. I’ll be chasing him up.’

He glanced to his right. ‘As you see, Dr Will Traynor is with us again.’ He paused for the flurry of low comments, nods and grins to subside, including an intent, lingering gaze from Josie Miller directed at Traynor. ‘I’ve given Will a quick overview of the carjacking series and the Lawrence shootings.’ He turned to him. ‘Anything you’d like to say at this stage, Will?’

All eyes were on Traynor as he removed two large sheets from his file, calmly unfolded them, took them to the whiteboard and fixed them to it. Two maps. Watts felt a rush of adrenalin. A criminological evaluation of the two inner-city crimes and their scenes was exactly what was needed. Traynor pointed to the map on the left.

‘I understand there’s consideration being given to a link between the six carjackings close to the Bristol Road intersection here, and’ – he pointed to the map on the right – ‘the shooting of Michael and Molly Lawrence in this area of the inner city, specifically Forge Street. It appears to be a reasonable line of inquiry at this early stage, given the relative proximity of the two scenes and the fact that the first victim believes she saw a gun.’ He paused. His audience waited.

‘I’ve read all the available information on the interchange attacks and the shootings of Mr and Mrs Lawrence. They tell us something about offender thinking and action, plus the significance of “place” for both offences which I’d like to share with you.’

He came towards them, his face relaxed. ‘What I’ve done is use the admittedly small amount of available information to analyse both of the crimes and the specific geographical areas in which they occurred.’ He pointed back to the maps.

‘Given the nature of the November carjackings, their location and timing in fading afternoon light, I would anticipate that there were two offenders involved, one acting as lookout at the traffic island.’ He pointed. ‘Up here to a confederate further down the dual carriageway.’

Watts’ optimism rose.

‘That whole series was ultra-smooth, with minimal engagement between the offender and five of the six victims.’

Watts nodded again.

‘The geographical and temporal awareness shown by that attacker is reflected in his post-offence behaviour as described by victims: his leaving the immediate location in failing light and at speed, quickly disappearing into the urban landscape. It tells us something about him. He’s likely to be of average intelligence, a planner, someone who is into criminal activity which is quick, low risk and involves minimal contact between himself and his victims. Descriptions of him from victim-witnesses fit with my expectations of him as strong, athletic, fast-moving.’

Traynor returned to the left-hand map. ‘He’s young. Between say sixteen and twenty-five. He knows that area intimately.’ He looked back at them. ‘It’s where he lives.’

Brophy came into the incident room as Traynor placed both hands against the map, emphasizing each word. ‘Smash. Grab. Run. That’s his MO. Straightforward. Efficient.’ All eyes followed as he moved to the right-hand map and the Lawrence attack.

‘Question: what does Forge Street and its surrounding area have to tell us about the individual who attacked and shot Mr and Mrs Lawrence?’ The silence in the room was palpable. ‘Based on what we know so far, he appears to have acted alone. In terms of his behaviour, the degree of violence exhibited was extreme. One of the victims was killed, the other very fortunate not to have been.’ He gave them a direct look. ‘All offenders gain confidence via experience. Are the Lawrence shootings an example of a young, athletic carjacker, emboldened by a series of six successful attacks now intent on upping his game? To answer that question, we need to consider further the relevance of place.’ He pointed to the Forge Street map.

‘Some of you have been to that area as part of the investigation. I was there at six thirty this morning. I experienced a high volume of traffic as I approached it but very little the closer I got. In the forty-five minutes I was in that street, I logged just two vehicles enter and pass quickly along it without stopping.’ He moved his hand slowly over the area of the Lawrence crime scene. ‘Why would an experienced