Death Marks (The Symbolist) (23 page)

Trewitt raised his head. 'Before we go any further Chief Inspector, I think a cup of tea is in order.

'No - no Sir thank you, But we haven't got much time. Yesterday, our officers informed you that Dr
. Rodenberry; your Chief Geneticist may be missing, her close friend Luke Marsh reported it in. It's now two full days since her disappearance, so we'd like to ask you a few more questions.'

'Of course - of course. So now Chief Inspector, you suspect foul play?'

'We cannot assume anything at the moment. Luke Marsh informed us she was due to present the results of an important research project; the hope was that the pharmaceutical would sponsor—'

'Yes I know that, it was an important meeting.' Trewitt interrupted pompously, '
The money would keep us going for a further three years. What with all the cuts—'

'So I understand. Her car was abandoned - bonnet still open.'

'Frightening Chief Inspector, it comes to something when we can't even use our public roads in safety.'

'So, did Dr
. Rodenbury have any enemies here?'

'She was on a tight budget and had a limited timespan to produce results. It's obvious that she would ruffle a few feathers.'

Redd rested his elbows on his knees, steepling his fingers. 'I see. I would be grateful for a list of names please. It would be better, if I conducted the interviews here immediately to save time.'

'Now I would like to oblige Inspector, but as I said, our time is precious - we can't possibly
—'

'I can always take them to the station, although that will really take hours to do so.'

Shaking his head, Trewitt grimaced. 'It's not that I'm being recalcitrant - it's Professor Morgan - he has such a prickly temper.'

Dryly, Redd murmured, 'I'd like a list of their names, addresses; e-mail addresses and contact numbers please.'

Sandy nodded. 'I'll see to that straightaway.'

Redd turned to Trewitt. 'So, do you have a room for us?''

Trewitt rose to his feet, once more, his face magnanimous. 'Of course, I shall see to it immediately.'

Trewitt put down the phone. 'The restroom is empty and quite private; I will fix that up for you.'

***

The interviews stretched long into the afternoon. Redd and Dove gathered from the remarks of the interviewees, Gemma was a popular but firm boss; she inspired them in their work, exacting a high standard of competence. Her only foible appeared to be her insistence on punctuality and attendance, to the point of keeping weekly charts.

Redd realized this marked her as an obsessive personality, hence it was quite out of character, for her to abandon her new car leaving it unlocked, and also not informing anyone of her whereabouts. Clearing up the interview forms, Dove put them into files, slipping them into her briefcase. Glancing over to Redd, she said, 'Boss, I really suspect she's been abducted.'

'I agree, let's hope she's still got her mobile on; we can track her with that. Get onto Papworth; ask him to track a number. The boyfriend gave it in this morning.'

'Will that be all for now boss?'

'No, I want a few more words with Trewitt.'

Finding the manager at his desk, Redd closed the door behind him. 'I won't keep you long. Dr. Rodenbury appears to be quite popular. Also, she is a stickler for punctuality and staff attendance. So, it is quite out of character for her just to disappear without leaving a word to anyone. Is there anywhere you think she may have gone? Is she in contact with researchers in other establishments?'

Trewitt frowned. 'She is in close contact with the research establishment at Stillford; some miles away from here. However, I cannot think of anyone else.' He turned as Sandy entered carrying correspondence. 'Hah, Sandy can you think of anyone who would have contacted Dr. Rodenbury at Stillford?'

'Well there's Ms. Peacock. I think she invited her to go on the lab's trip. Oh dear - she won't be going now, will she? That's five people - two of them dead and two missing and now Gemma.' Tears filled her eyes

Dove said, '
The trip? When is it?'

'Just a few days, Sunday, June the twenty- second, but I really do think we should cancel it. Shame really as it was free with lunch and high tea.'

'Where are you going?'

'We told you the last time you were here, it's a Mystery Tour.'

Redd asked. 'So who organized it?'

'Really Inspector, do you think this has anything to do with the murders?'

'At present no - but I just want to tie up any loose ends.'

'Well we don't know who organized it; it was an anonymous donor; a thank you for our work here - we had some significant results.'

Dove said, 'It's a coincidence that the first two victims received tickets to a nightclub as an anonymous gift. So did Jeannette Walker and Neil Bennett. Have you a bus or coach picking you up?'

'Yes - a coach, Terri Tours - local firm.'

'Well, that's easy enough to trace. Make a note of that Detective.' Turning to Trewitt, he said, 'I'll get straight back to you on that.'

Warily, Sandy said, '
That sounds ominous - d'you think we should cancel?'

Picking up her briefcase, Dove said, '
No - no. Just leave it to us; it might turn out to be completely innocent. After all, if it's a well-known coach company, I see no reason to be suspicious. Just to be on the safe side, we'll check it out.'

Trewitt pursed his lips. 'I think we'll have to review the trip Sandy; I mean these murders are vicious - there are some sadistic people about.'

Dove raised her hand. 'Please don't worry - the Tour company is local, been operating for years. I'm sure it will be okay.'

As they walked down the corridor to the entrance doors, Redd felt his phone vibrate. Taking it from his pocket, he saw Jack's number. He held up his hand to Dove to pause for a moment. 'Hi Jack, what's up? ... Jesus Christ. Where? .... Okay - see you there. Hey, wait a moment; is Tess still at the station? Yeah? Take her along with you, she can read the signs at the scene - if any.' Clicking off, he looked at Dove. 'They've just found Jeannette and Neil.'

Jumping into the car, Redd said, 'They've left the bodies at Wilmington - site of the prehistoric Long Man.'

Dove said, '
Another pagan site.' She visualized the huge chalk figure carved into a hillside in the Downs.

As they sped along the A23, Redd contacted the police station. 'Hi Bessie, liaise with Papworth, I need info' on the mystery tour organi
zed with the research laboratories at Brighton Hospital. The trip is on the June 22nd, and it's with Terry Tours. Find out who booked it, and donated the money.'

'But Sir, what if they won't divulge the donor?'

'Then threaten them with a warrant. Okay - call terminated.'

Turning to Dove, he said, '
Let's put our foot down detective.' Thinking about the confines of the tent, he slipped a couple of diazepam under his tongue.

Dove glanced over, concern on her face. 'It might help, if you had therapy for that boss.'

Irritated, he said, 'I don't remember asking for your advice detective.'

Mortified, her face flushing, Dove muttered, '
Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.'

Redd remained quiet, letting her stew for a while, but he inwardly agreed that he should seek help, he didn't seem to be getting over it. But then, how could he? Esther - Harry - the loss - even now he imagined he would go home, put the key in the lock to the front door, pushing it open, walk into the lounge to see Harry sitting cross-legged on the floor watching CBeebies; Esther would call from the kitchen.... But, one night, the door was already open.

Taking a breath, he pushed the scene into a room deep in his mind.

As Redd and Dove walked up to the site officer and signed in, Jack strode over, his usually genial face grim. 'Be ready pal - it's sick - group of neo-druids found them a couple of hours ago. They were preparing for the Solstice festival.'

Redd nodded. 'Where's Tess?'

'Already there. Forensics have just finished in the tent. The Divisional Surgeon declared the death - Mahoney is on his way.'

Face ashen, body quivering, Tess waited for them. As Redd approached she said, 'It's monstrous Dan, definitely Druid - I can't go in there again.'

Squeezing Tessa's arm, Redd held up the tent flap, and dipped into Hades, St Peter wasn't in sight. The bodies were already in the first state of decomposition, flesh mottled purple and red, the smell like rancid fried chicken.'

Two bodies lay arranged in the Triskelion pattern; the limbs contorted around the torsos, ripped open with the intestines trailing on the ground, as if dancing to an unseen God. The head of the female was missing; a dagger impaled the note to the male chest.

Jack came alongside. 'They didn't replace the intestines this time. Demented - forensics are right. They must be upping the drug intake - they're out of their fucking minds.'

Redd shook his head, 'Still looks well organized to me; insane, drugged with their own evil. From what pit, did these devils drag themselves?'

Bending nearer, trying to swallow acid bile sprinting up her throat, Dove almost whispered, '
They've bleached the bones.'

Redd nodded. 'There's no blood either; again this is not a primary site, they transported the bodies here. Bastards. I think I've seen enough, let's hear what Tess has to say.'

Searching for the slender figure, he saw her sitting on the bench, in the shade of a copse of trees. Her head bowed, writing notes onto a thick A4.

Redd sat beside her. 'How're you feeling?'

Tess's lips trembled. 'Don't ask.'

'Have you any ideas yet?'

'I've googled the Long Man and come up with some interesting results - it tallies with the other crime scenes. Again, it's Druid driven. I will read out what I've jotted down so far. The figure of the Long Man of Wilmington, is two hundred and twenty-six feet high, the two staves he's holding are two hundred and thirty feet and two hundred and thirty-five feet respectively. He is second only to the Giant of Atacama in Chile.'

'Any date on it?'

'I think he's prehistoric, carved from the chalk. Some scholars argue he dates back three thousand four hundred years. Because of the grass growing over the chalk, the figure was outlined with yellow bricks in the seventeenth century, but these have now been replaced with concrete blocks.'

'So - any leads?'

'Yes, important stuff. It confirms our suspicions on the Oracle. It could explain why the female body was decapitated, and the body placed here.'

'Really?'

'Yes. Some time ago, archaeologists discovered three stone heads, found in the local church here. It's believed they point to an ancient Celtic Head Cult.'

Dove frowned, 'Sounds ominous.'

'Yes, seems it's the same group, no doubt about it. Another bit of information, in battle the Celts cut off the enemies' heads and hung them from their horses' necks, as they continued fighting. They also hung them outside their huts.'

Grimacing Dove said, '
Grisly trophies.'

Tess nodded. 'But here's the important part. They weren't just trophies; they cherished them. If it was the skull of an enemy, it was used as drinking cup, or oracles, where they would divine information as to the plans of the enemy.'

Redd said, 'Like you explained earlier about the druids.'

'Yes, maybe I didn't make it clear; the druids are Celts; they weren't a separate religion. They were part of the early Celtic culture - and even beyond that, many of their beliefs and rituals stem from Neolithic societies who were headhunters. However, these prehistoric people also worshipped the heads of their ancestors. To drink from the skull of an ancestor was to drink their wisdom.'

Redd grimaced. 'What the hell are we dealing with?'

'But there's more, the Longman figure, may also be part of a Neolithic Astra religion. The Long Man plays host to neopagan religions on a Sunday, closest to the eight major festivals.'

Redd frowned. 'Hmm - so that means the Solstice could be held here, as well as a dozen other sites.'

Jack said, 'So what about the note, have you any idea?'

Tess looked at her notes. 'Again the Ogham sticks, as far as I can make out it says, 'The Oracle has spoken; the Gods smile upon us.'

'So the nutters think that poor girl's head is speaking to them.'

Dove muttered, 'Those poor victims didn't stand a chance.'

Shivering Tess said, '
That's right. The moment they were abducted, their fate was sealed. Jeannette was the Oracle, Neil her Divine lover, filling her with the energy of the gods. Sex was highly revered. It was as normal as eating or drinking. The ancients thought nothing of copulating in front of, or with others as a group. To do so, was considered sacred.'

Dove, who had been standing listening, sat the other side of Tess. 'D'you think they forced them to
—'

'Copulate? I don't know. However, I do know in the ancient rituals the pair definitely did, and to the rapture of the crowd. They would also put on the headdresses of their spirit animals, whilst dancing and making love.'

Dove said, 'You mean they sacrificed them, whilst fucking?'

Tess nodded. 'Yes; orgasm at the point of death was considered divine.'

Redd frowned. 'Completely different mind to us - almost alien. Anyway Mahoney should be able to tell us if they did have sex.'

Tess said, '
They would be high on drugs and whatever alcohol they had, so they would be hallucinating, or at least, I hope so.'