‘Yes, thanks. Blake got the wrong end of the stick about something, but he’s calmed down now.’
Jane went over to the crime scene wall and looked at the hostel room photographs to see if she could see any footwear on the floor or in the wardrobe. There was just a pair of brown suede shoes by the end of the bed, and using the magnifying glass she could see they were slip-on.
Something small on the floor also caught her eye, but it was hard to make out. Using the magnifying glass Jane looked closer. She could see it was blue and red, but that was all. Jane got the exhibits book with the list of items seized from Lang’s hostel room from the case file and started reading. There was no mention of a small blue and red object recovered from the wardrobe. Jane realized Lawrence had left the hostel to attend Eileen Summers’ post-mortem and the SOCOs must have missed it. Lawrence would no doubt be furious with them.
‘You got a moment, Edwards?’ Jane asked.
‘Sure.’ Edwards got up from his desk.
Jane handed him the magnifying glass and put her finger next to the blue and red object.
‘Can you make out what that is?’
Edwards moved the magnifying glass up and down to focus it. ‘Pity there wasn’t a close-up. It could be a tiny bit of cloth, but there’s also a metal glint, which I suppose might be from the flash of the camera... Hold on, from the color and shape, I think it could be a fishing fly.’
Jane frowned. ‘I’m not in the mood for any silly games, Edwards.’
‘I’m being serious. I’m a member of the Met Police Angling Society, I’ll have you know. I’ve been fishing since I was a kid. Mostly coarse fishing, but I know a bit about fishing flies.’
Jane explained to Edwards about the picture she saw of Simmonds salmon fishing and the framed set of fishing flies in his Peckham clinic.
Edwards paused. He looked deep in thought, then went over to another section of the photographs and looked closely at the pictures of the ligatures. ‘That’s interesting. So Simmonds is a keen fisherman then?’
Jane shrugged. ‘Maybe. The picture I saw was taken on the river Spey in 1978. Why do you ask?’
‘The Spey is famous for fly-fishing. It costs a fortune to fish there, so he must be keen. The thing is, fishermen use different types of knots for tying hooks, lures and flies. It’s just dawned on me that a slip knot, like the one used on two of the victims, is also used by fishermen,’ Edwards concluded with a smug grin.
‘This is one of those rare times when I could kiss you, Edwards,’ she exclaimed.
‘Well, if you feel the need right now...’ Edwards closed his eyes and puckered up.
Jane gave him a quick peck on the cheek. ‘Could you go see if the object is still in Lang’s wardrobe at the hostel?’
‘Sure. Is Simmonds a suspect now?’
‘I’ll tell you later,’ Jane said, removing the wardrobe and rope photographs from the wall.
When she got back to Moran’s office, he was already there with Gibbs, who was putting down a tray of coffees and biscuits.
Lawrence was on the phone. ‘Thanks. I’m in DCI Moran’s office at Peckham. Ring me when you’ve finished checking.’ He put the phone down.
Jane put the ligature photographs down on Moran’s desk.
‘I know this may sound crazy,’ she began, ‘but Edwards knows quite a bit about fishing and how fishermen tie a line to a fishing fly. He told me they use slip knots, just like the ones on the ligatures.’
‘From what we know of him, Lang doesn’t seem like a fisherman to me,’ Lawrence said.
‘I know I should have said something earlier, but Hilary Peters told me her brother has a partially clasped left thumb.’ Jane waited for Moran to reprimand her, but he remained silent.
‘And your point is?’ Gibbs asked.
‘He can’t tie a shoelace, let alone a slip knot or fishing fly, but Simmonds must know about different types of knots.’
‘That’s impossible to prove without an admission or eyewitness,’ Gibbs said.
Jane reminded them about the photograph she’d seen in his mother’s bedroom.
‘There was a label on it with: “Salmon Fishing, River Spey, 1978.” Edwards also said you’d have to be a keen fisherman to go there as it’s so expensive. In the waiting room I saw a frame containing different types of fishing flies.’
‘Edwards’ observations, and the photo of Simmonds, are thought-provoking. But it doesn’t prove Simmonds tied the ligatures,’ Gibbs countered.
Jane frowned. ‘You’re beginning to sound like Blake.’ She put the wardrobe photograph on the table and handed Lawrence his magnifying glass.
‘Edwards thinks that might be a fishing fly.’ She pointed to the small blue and red object.
Lawrence looked at it with the magnifying glass. ‘It’s hard to say what it is. Rather than take Edward’s word for it, check the list of items seized from Lang’s room.’
‘I did. It’s not listed. I’ve sent Edwards to the hostel to see if it’s still there.’
‘Bloody SOCOs better hope it is,’ Lawrence muttered darkly.
‘It’s a good spot by you and Edwards, Jane, but even if it turns out to be a fishing fly, it’s hardly a connection between Simmonds and Lang,’ Gibbs said.
Moran picked up the magnifying glass and looked at the photo. ‘I’m not questioning your suspicions about Simmonds, Jane, but Gibbs is right.’
‘Is Simmonds married or in a relationship?’ Gibbs asked.
Jane was caught out by the question. ‘I don’t know.’
‘There was no mention of him being married or having a girlfriend in the dental journal article,’ Lawrence added.
Jane cast her mind back to her first meeting with Simmonds. ‘He told me he lived in a flat above the Harley Street clinic, and that Helen Matthews cleaned and ironed for him, which kind of implies he’s single.’
Moran’s desk phone rang. He picked it up. ‘DCI Moran.’ After a few seconds he looked at Lawrence.
‘It’s Fingerprint Bureau for you.’
Lawrence took the phone. ‘Are you certain?’ He looked surprised. ‘OK. Thanks for that.’ He put the phone down.
They could all sense something was troubling him.
‘What’s up, Paul?’ Moran asked.
‘It’s odd. The fingerprints we recovered from Helen Matthews’ and Eileen Summers’ flats are all from the first or second finger of Lang’s right hand.’
‘What’s odd about that?’ Gibbs asked.
Perplexed, Lawrence shook his head. ‘There’s none from his other right fingers or left hand.’
Gibbs was confused. ‘Excuse me if I sound a bit dim, Paul, but I don’t see what the problem is. No two people have the same fingerprints, and Lang’s were in two of the victim’s flats. That’s indisputable evidence he was there.’
Lawrence took a deep breath. ‘I think we should get a forensic odontologist to check the teeth in the severed head.’
‘It would be a waste of time and money,’ Gibbs argued. ‘I ran a check on mispers. There’s no one reported missing with blue eyes who fell within the height or age range of the victim.’
‘We need an odontologist to determine whether or not recent dental work was carried out to replace any missing teeth,’ Lawrence argued.
‘Why?’ Gibbs asked.
‘Because it’s possible the dismembered body in the mortuary is Aiden Lang.’
‘Jesus Christ!’ Moran looked incredulous. He opened his notebook and looked at his post-mortem notes. ‘I’m sorry, Paul, but that’s impossible. Professor Martin said the victim whose body parts were found in Rye Park could have been dead for seven days. The earliest Lang could have broken into Summers’ flat was the Monday night she was murdered — which was six days ago. So if that’s the case, unless he’s risen from the dead, the dismembered body can’t be him.’