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and this was the new method of punishment?
    “I’ve seen this somewhere.” Rocco spoke, as the photo of the bloodied hand was passed around. “I’ll have to check it out, but I’m sure it’s daubed on the gable end of the off licence on Circle Road.”
    “Gang tags are serious business,” Imogen explained to Dodgy. “They send out a message to rivals, the law and anyone else who fancies their chances. It’s like a code saying ‘keep off, this is our territory.’”
    Tag aside, they now had a name, and a link to the crime. All very neat, but perhaps a little too neat. And that was exactly like Fallon; putting someone else in the frame was a favourite ploy of his. The DI’s head was full of conflicting ideas.
    He had that feeling again. It wasn’t rational, given what little they knew, but he had the feeling that this latest atrocity was being flaunted in their faces. That the perpetrator was playing some sort of catch me if you can game with them.
    “Okay, this changes things. We need to know when Edwards was last seen. Ruth and I will go to the Hobfield and visit his mother. We’ll tell her the bad news and appoint a liaison officer to stay with her. We don’t want any of this getting out, not yet. I don’t want Donna Edwards, or any of you talking to the press. We’ll deal with them as and when we have to.”
    The team was mostly in agreement, but Ruth did wonder if, on this occasion, having some publicity might help.
    “He has a girlfriend — Kelly Griggs,” Calladine continued. “She and Edwards have an infant son, and she’s got a flat in Fieldfare House, the smaller of the tower blocks. We’ll visit her too. I want to know the last time she saw him. Don’t mention the find to her, not yet, not until we know what we’re dealing with.”
    He transferred his gaze to Rocco. “You and Dodgy visit the Masheda family.” This was said with a grim edge to his voice. “Young Malcolm in particular. As I recall there’s not a lot of love lost between him and Ice, not since Kelly.”
    He thought for a moment and then looked at Imogen, who was making notes. “I’m afraid that leaves the CCTV,” he apologised, knowing that this would mean hours of watching endless tapes. “See what you can do with it.” He smiled. “Also do as Ruth suggested, give the chemists in Leesdon and town a ring. See if anyone’s been in asking for advice or bought large amounts of dressings in the last few days.”
    It was a long shot, but they couldn’t treat this as anything but a serious assault until they found Ian Edwards, dead or alive.
    “Right, folks!” He raised his voice above the chatter. “Back here at five for an update. Okay?”
    * * *
    “How d’you all cope?” Detective Sergeant Don Thorpe asked Ruth, as the team meeting broke up.
    He was a sergeant on the station’s other team of detectives. For the last few minutes he’d been standing by the door, chewing gum, listening to the proceedings, and eyeing the incident board with interest. “All he’s got is a bag of fingers. Anyone would think it was the crime of the century.”
    “He does a good job. So keep your sarky comments to yourself. He’s a good boss with a good team.” She tapped his chest lightly. “And it’s not just a bag of fingers, either. It’s probably murder.” This was confirmed with a nod. “Jealous, Thorpe?” She smirked. “That fat lazy sod you work for wouldn’t know where to start.” She was referring to Detective Inspector Brad Long.
    “That ‘fat lazy sod’ would just round up the bloody lot of them and have done with it,” Thorpe snorted. “Time in the cells, that’s what the animals need.” He sidled away, back to his own desk.
    “He doesn’t sound very impressed.” Dodgy was watching him go.
    “Take no notice. He’s all mouth and suit, that one. They’d give a month’s salary to have the clear-up rate our team’s got.”

 
    Chapter 4
    She was just sat there, on the pavement outside the café,