Equinox

Chapter 35

Near Woodstock: 30 March, 2 p.m.

Philip only managed to grab a couple of hours' sleep before he was needed at the police station in Oxford. Four hours later, after snatching a take-out chicken sandwich from a bakery near Carfax, he was driving back to Woodstock when his mobile rang.

'How's it going?' It was Laura.

'Oh, awake, are we?'

She sighed down the line. 'Actually, I was up and about soon after you left. I went to James Lightman's house. I was hoping to catch Bridges, but he wasn't there.'

'Apparently, Monroe's found a new link between the victims,' Philip said. 'I didn't see him myself, and everyone I spoke to was very cagey — seems like the DCI has locked down on this one. But all the murdered girls were the subjects of some sort of psychological profiling carried out by a research team at the uni last year.'

'Really?' Laura sounded excited. 'Profiling? What kind. .?'

'I couldn't get many details. Apparently, it was a voluntary thing, a day of tests in exchange for a fifty-quid book voucher or something like that. Forty or so girls took part.'

'No names?'

'Only Monroe and a couple of other officers have the list. . couldn't find out a thing. Everyone's clammed up. Where are you, by the way?'

'Near your place, just coming into Woodstock.'

'I'm not far behind you. See you at home.'

A few minutes later Philip pulled into the drive. He was surprised to see Laura standing at the kitchen door. She looked harried.

'What is it?'

'You've had a break-in.'

He followed her quickly through the dining room into the living room. His computer was in pieces that were scattered across the floor. Papers were strewn everywhere, bookcases had been overturned, a couple of his mother's paintings hung at odd angles. Philip sat down on the back of a sofa with his arms folded and surveyed the damage in silence before letting out a heavy sigh as he felt his anger mount.

'I'm sorry, Philip,' Laura said suddenly

'Sorry? Why?'

'I was the one who dragged you into this mess.

Me and my crazy ideas. And now everything Charlie left us has gone.'

'What makes you think that?'

'Well, just look,' she replied and waved at the mess. 'This wasn't done by a bunch of kids or an opportunist thief, was it?'

'I'm sure you're right,' Philip replied. 'But you don't have to worry about Charlie's stuff. I had a feeling something like this might happen. . and I took the precaution of keeping it all with me. It's in the car.'