in a hotel in Whitley Bay when he had a girlfriend he was planning on marrying at some point? Doesn’t quite add up.’
‘Depends . . .’ Daniels began.
Brady inwardly steeled himself for yet another inane comment.
‘I know blokes who have a long-term girlfriend but still screw around. You know? It’s human nature. They may have the woman they want to marry but that doesn’t mean they want the same boring meal every day, if you get my drift. Variety is what keeps you sane,’ Daniels said with a grin.
‘Great to get an inside view of what goes on in that Neolithic brain of yours, Daniels. But not everyone is a serial shagger like you.’
Brady could feel Amelia’s eyes on him. He didn’t want to look at her, to see what she thought of him. After all, hadn’t he stood her up in front of the team? Left her alone at the bar, without a word, to console Claudia. But one thing had led to another and he had ended up in bed with Claudia. It was inevitable. Brady was still desperately in love with her. Perhaps always would be.
He cleared his head. Pushed thoughts of what could have happened with Amelia to the back of his mind.
‘It’s crucial we talk to his girlfriend. ASAP,’ Brady said, looking pointedly at Conrad.
He then turned to Daniels and Kenny. ‘You two need to shape up. By the time I get back the rest of the team will be working this case. Don’t embarrass yourselves. More importantly, don’t embarrass me. Understand? In the meantime, you two will go through all the statements taken from the hotel staff and guests. Check for any priors. Anything suspicious, report it back. CCTV footage is crucial. The hotel receptionist said that they don’t have a security system. Check it out. And check out the surveillance cameras along the Promenade. My gut feeling is that the killer walked through the double doors into reception. And then, sometime later, walked back out.’
Daniels made a point of exhaling noisily at the workload he had been given.
‘Within the hour this team will comprise fifteen detectives and officers. Use your brain, Daniels. Delegate. It’s going to be a long night, so I recommend you two get some coffee to help you sober up.’
Brady mentally prepared himself as he turned to Amelia. He had to; she hadn’t yet said one word. It unnerved him. It was as if she had her shrink head on. Observing, analysing and judging.
‘Amelia . . .’ Brady paused. There was no mistaking the coolness. Her eyes lacked any warmth or familiarity – her whole demeanour was one of professional detachment. ‘Could you take a look at the spate of murders in the Seventies that took place throughout North Tyneside and compare them to this one? Charlie Turner, the desk sergeant, will help you locate the files. Have a chat with Charlie. He was a young copper at the time these murders took place. He might have some details or insight that you won’t glean from the files on the case.’
‘It’s filed under what?’
The detached professionalism in her voice stung him.
‘The Joker murders.’
Without looking at him, she made a note. ‘Is it a cold case?’
‘Yes,’ Brady replied. She still had her head down. ‘I’d be interested to know your take on it.’
She finally raised her head to meet Brady’s eyes.
‘The Seventies murderer was named “The Joker” by the media,’ he explained. ‘For good reason. He left a Joker card with each of his victims’ bodies. There were seven in total from the beginning of the summer of ’77 to the end of it. He mutilated his victims, the injuries identical to those sustained by our victim last night, and then, after suffocating them, he left his calling card. The Joker. His way of playing with the police. The Joker card left with Alexander De Bernier is identical to the ones left with the Seventies victims.’
Amelia looked mildly surprised at this information. ‘You seriously think this could be the same perpetrator?’
Brady could feel Kenny
‘Depends . . .’ Daniels began.
Brady inwardly steeled himself for yet another inane comment.
‘I know blokes who have a long-term girlfriend but still screw around. You know? It’s human nature. They may have the woman they want to marry but that doesn’t mean they want the same boring meal every day, if you get my drift. Variety is what keeps you sane,’ Daniels said with a grin.
‘Great to get an inside view of what goes on in that Neolithic brain of yours, Daniels. But not everyone is a serial shagger like you.’
Brady could feel Amelia’s eyes on him. He didn’t want to look at her, to see what she thought of him. After all, hadn’t he stood her up in front of the team? Left her alone at the bar, without a word, to console Claudia. But one thing had led to another and he had ended up in bed with Claudia. It was inevitable. Brady was still desperately in love with her. Perhaps always would be.
He cleared his head. Pushed thoughts of what could have happened with Amelia to the back of his mind.
‘It’s crucial we talk to his girlfriend. ASAP,’ Brady said, looking pointedly at Conrad.
He then turned to Daniels and Kenny. ‘You two need to shape up. By the time I get back the rest of the team will be working this case. Don’t embarrass yourselves. More importantly, don’t embarrass me. Understand? In the meantime, you two will go through all the statements taken from the hotel staff and guests. Check for any priors. Anything suspicious, report it back. CCTV footage is crucial. The hotel receptionist said that they don’t have a security system. Check it out. And check out the surveillance cameras along the Promenade. My gut feeling is that the killer walked through the double doors into reception. And then, sometime later, walked back out.’
Daniels made a point of exhaling noisily at the workload he had been given.
‘Within the hour this team will comprise fifteen detectives and officers. Use your brain, Daniels. Delegate. It’s going to be a long night, so I recommend you two get some coffee to help you sober up.’
Brady mentally prepared himself as he turned to Amelia. He had to; she hadn’t yet said one word. It unnerved him. It was as if she had her shrink head on. Observing, analysing and judging.
‘Amelia . . .’ Brady paused. There was no mistaking the coolness. Her eyes lacked any warmth or familiarity – her whole demeanour was one of professional detachment. ‘Could you take a look at the spate of murders in the Seventies that took place throughout North Tyneside and compare them to this one? Charlie Turner, the desk sergeant, will help you locate the files. Have a chat with Charlie. He was a young copper at the time these murders took place. He might have some details or insight that you won’t glean from the files on the case.’
‘It’s filed under what?’
The detached professionalism in her voice stung him.
‘The Joker murders.’
Without looking at him, she made a note. ‘Is it a cold case?’
‘Yes,’ Brady replied. She still had her head down. ‘I’d be interested to know your take on it.’
She finally raised her head to meet Brady’s eyes.
‘The Seventies murderer was named “The Joker” by the media,’ he explained. ‘For good reason. He left a Joker card with each of his victims’ bodies. There were seven in total from the beginning of the summer of ’77 to the end of it. He mutilated his victims, the injuries identical to those sustained by our victim last night, and then, after suffocating them, he left his calling card. The Joker. His way of playing with the police. The Joker card left with Alexander De Bernier is identical to the ones left with the Seventies victims.’
Amelia looked mildly surprised at this information. ‘You seriously think this could be the same perpetrator?’
Brady could feel Kenny
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