The History Suite (#9 - The Craig Modern Thriller Series) Read Online Free

dangling end of the crime-scene tape. Craig pointed at it.
    “Who took that down?”
    Joe stepped forward, making sure not to invade Craig’s space; it didn’t do to rile the boss at a murder scene.
    “The C.S.I.s. They finished an hour past and said we could re-open the ward when you said so.”
    Craig shook his head, not with a ‘no’ but with a ‘let’s see’. He stepped closer to the door and peered at a dent in the wood. It was faint and small and set at waist height.
    “What’s this?”
    Neither man could see what he was looking at but they pretended they did, answering “no idea” in unison, with Joe’s “so” bringing up the rear.
    Craig smiled. “You can’t see it, can you?” He beckoned them closer without waiting for an answer. They squinted and Liam saw it first.
    “It’s a dent, but it hasn’t broken the wood. Man, your eyesight’s good, boss.”
    Once it was pointed out Joe could see the dent as well. He asked the right question.
    “So? That door must get bashed a hundred times a day.” He gestured at the trolley. “Usually by that.”
    Craig nodded him on. “Show me what part of that trolley matches the dent.”
    Joe stared at the trolley then back at the door several times before finally shaking his head. Nothing on the trolley protruded sufficiently to make the mark. Liam hazarded a guess.
    “Maybe a trolley from the clinical room, or one of the nurses’ belts?”
    Craig thought for a moment longer and then shrugged, pushing away the end of the tape. “I don’t know what it is yet, but get it photographed, please.”
    His inspection over he reached for the handle to open the door, then he stared again, for so long Liam wondered if he was counting the sheets. He knew better than to interrupt Craig when he was in spook mode, so he folded his arms and leaned against the nearest wall.
    Craig scanned the linen room slowly. Its interior wasn’t as small as he’d expected. It extended back the length of three good-sized men and sideways two more on top of that, giving floor space of over five hundred square feet. Each wall was lined with shelves, their designated contents indicated by tabs: shelf one - sheets, shelf two - pillowcases, and so on. When the room was full of linen, a body could have been hidden at one end and not found for days.
    He beckoned Joe forward. “Show me where the body was found.”
    Joe pointed to the right-hand-side of the room. “There, about halfway down, so.”
    “Halfway down, you’re sure?”
    “Yes. Why? Is that important?”
    Craig knew that it was but he wasn’t sure why. Leaving someone halfway down the room where they might be seen could indicate many things. The killer might have been interrupted or lazy, or simply unable to drag the body any farther, except that didn’t fit with the level of strength required to strangle someone with their bare hands. Perhaps they’d actually wanted Eleanor Rudd’s body found; he would think about that one later.
    He turned on his heel and strode back to the centre of the unit with the other two scrambling to keep up.
    “Who found the body?”
    “Another nurse. Hannah Donard. She’s been interviewed and sent home.”
    “Get her into High Street tomorrow, Liam. I want Annette to interview her, with Carmen, please.”
    “Why not me?”
    Craig ignored the question. “Joe, do you have the notes of her interview?”
    Joe patted his top pocket and they knew he was literally keeping it close to his chest. “I’ll have it typed up and with you tomorrow.”
    “Good. Annette will want to see it before she starts.”
    Liam turned to Craig. “Do you want Annette to interview her ’cos she used to be a nurse?” It was asked like a petulant child.
    Craig nodded. “And because she’ll be sensitive.”
    Liam blustered. “I’m sensitive.”
    “The most sensitive part of you is the sole of your foot and that’s usually inside a boot! Annette’s doing it. Right, Joe, show us the long-stay suite now,