Life For a Life Read Online Free Page B

work together, I’ll need to know more about you.’
    ‘Why?’ she snapped at him. ‘So you won’t stick your foot in it again?’
    Her snap of anger surprised him. ‘Look—’
    ‘I said forget it.’
    His escape route opened in the form of Dr Cooper, who was making her way back up the slope. She reached out for a helping hand, and Gilchrist obliged by pulling her up and on to the path.
    She offered her hand to Jessie. ‘Rebecca Cooper,’ she said. ‘Call me Becky.’
    Jessie reciprocated with a firm grip. ‘Jessica Janes. Call me Jessie.’
    If she caught the cynicism in Jessie’s voice, Cooper smothered it cleanly. ‘I’d say our young woman’s been dead for several days.’ Her gaze shifted from Gilchrist to Jessie, then back again. ‘Body temperature’s close to zero. Skin’s frozen solid from the ice and wind. She has a nasty cut on the right temple, but I won’t be able to determine cause of death until she’s on my table.’
    ‘Anything else?’ Gilchrist tried.
    Manicured fingernails pushed through a layer of windswept curls. She shook her head, as if to tease him. ‘It’s interesting that she’s not wearing any knickers.’
    ‘Why’s that interesting?’ Jessie said.
    Gilchrist caught the challenge in her voice, but again, Cooper glided over it.
    ‘It could give some lead to the cause of death,’ she said. ‘Any knickers close by?’ She held Jessie’s fierce gaze with a steady stare of her own. ‘Which might have been where she spent the last moments of her life.’ She faced Gilchrist, as if she’d had enough of Jessie. ‘Although I suspect she wasn’t murdered.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Her calves are covered in minor bruises and scratches, which could have been caused by walking through grass or bushes—’
    ‘How about running?’ Jessie said.
    ‘Of course.’ Then back to Gilchrist. ‘Did you notice her heels are missing?’
    ‘We did. Any thoughts?’
    ‘I’d be searching the path for the missing heels.’ Back to Jessie, with a gentle smile. ‘She might have broken off the heels herself to walk, or run, and if you find them, it might give some indication as to where she came from.’
    ‘Thanks. I’ll remember that.’ Jessie turned away and walked towards Gilchrist’s car, her iPhone already at her ear.
    ‘Bit touchy,’ Cooper said.
    ‘She’s not a morning person.’
    Cooper smiled. ‘It’s almost midday. Want to buy me lunch?’
    Gilchrist grimaced at Jessie. ‘Could you handle both of us?’
    ‘Spoilsport. I’ll get back to you as soon as I’ve got something on our young woman,’ she said, then added, ‘And Mr Cooper is flying to Italy for four days, leaving first thing tomorrow morning.’
    ‘Business trip?’
    ‘Who knows. Maybe he’s got a sultry Italian mistress waiting for him. And I might need company of my own.’ She tossed her hair, teasing him further, then mouthed a kiss and said, ‘
Ciao
.’
    Gilchrist watched her stride towards her Range Rover and give a curt nod and a tight smile to Jessie as she passed. Jessie stretched her lips in response.
    Gilchrist refocused on the SOCOs, watched them sift and filter their way through the frosted grass. The temperature felt as if it had dropped another degree or two, and he tugged his collar tighter round his neck. The wind was now subdued in that sudden way that seems unique to Scotland, and the SOCOs were discussing erecting an Incitent. Overhead, the sky hung a painted grey, as still and lifeless as a frozen lake. Even the sea looked oddly calmer, its beaching waves puffing mist in tired gasps. Behind him, the rumble from the Range Rover’s engine faded from his senses. He almost jumped at the sound of Jessie’s voice.
    ‘Sir?’
    He was struck by how pale Jessie looked.
    ‘I know it’s my first day on the job,’ she said, ‘but I need to get home. I’m sorry.’
    Without a word, he strode to his Merc, keys already in his hand, beeping the remote.
    As he eased the car along the track, he