‘Leanne, you can stay here.’
So far today she’d been quite successful in ditching her protection.
‘Yeah, cos I’m going to let you enter an open site swarming with hundreds of people who have unrestricted access in and out the building.’
‘The morgue ain’t usually that busy,’ Kim said, hoping their destination was going to put her off.
‘You’ve got to get there first.’
It didn’t.
Kim groaned as she got out the car.
Her phone rang as Leanne fell into step behind her. It was a number she didn’t recognise.
‘Stone.’
‘Detective Inspector, it’s Gavin. Gavin Daynes. Zach’s husband. You came to—’
‘I know who you are,’ she said with a brief smile.
‘Rachel’s just been on the phone. They’re both struggling. May I come and do what you asked? Maybe it’ll help them; acceptance, closure, I’m not sure, but I need to try and do something to help them both.’
‘Of course. I understand. We’ll make the necessary arrangements,’ Kim answered.
By the time she’d finished giving him directions, the three of them had reached the outer doors to the morgue.
‘Look, still alive,’ she said to Leanne as the doors were opened.
Leanne offered no response but stepped aside for both Kim and Bryant to enter first.
‘Hey, Keats, meet my new friend properly. Her name is Leanne, and you’ll like her a lot,’ Kim said, entering the morgue anteroom where Keats was washing his hands. Through the glass panel she could see a sheet-covered figure on a gurney beside the metal dish. Penn stood by the second metal dish, checking something on his phone. He waved an acknowledgement.
‘Stone, we all know you have no friends,’ Keats said, turning to Leanne. ‘Do you find her just as insufferable as the rest of us?’
Kim saw the first signs of a smile on Leanne’s face.
So did Keats, who offered his hand. ‘Enough said. Pleased to meet you, and for whatever has transpired to force you into her company you have my deepest condolences.’
Bryant chuckled, and Kim wondered if there was anyone who was on her side.
‘Keats, you haven’t got time for this. We have a family member en route to identify the bodies.’
‘Are you joking?’
‘What’s your gut say?’
His gut and her expression gave him the answer.
‘All of them?’
Kim nodded. Yes, it would be a gruelling task indeed.
Keats immediately switched to organisation mode. It was usually preferable to have the victims identified prior to post-mortem, but circumstances often dictated that a level of urgency prompted the process to begin immediately.
‘Okay, well, Mrs Daynes hasn’t been touched yet so we’ll work our magic and start with her, then Mr Daynes followed by Lewis and then Rosalind last, which will give me the chance to complete her.’
Kim waited. All eyes in the room were on Keats.