‘It will be ok,’ Michelle said, pulling away as Ramouter’s phone began to ring. ‘That’s probably your girlfriend Princess Xena wondering if you can—’
‘Stop it,’ Ramouter replied. He picked up his phone from the sideboard and held it up to Michelle.
‘Oh, she’s fine,’ Michelle laughed when she saw Henley’s name on the screen and left to join Ethan.
‘Everything all right, boss?’ said Ramouter.
‘I’m really sorry to do this to you,’ said Henley. ‘But a body has been found.’
‘Who is it?’
‘Kaiden Longley,’ Henley sighed.
‘I’ll be with you in thirty minutes.’
47
Kaiden Longley’s spilled blood had been washed away by the morning rain. Ramouter crouched down next to his body. Rat bites and small, ravaged cuts left behind by foxes searching for food were visible on his arms and calves. His twisted and broken body resembled an action figure that a child had taken apart limb by limb and put back together back to front.
‘How long has he been here?’ Ramouter asked Dr Linh Choi who was standing nearby writing notes.
‘His rectal temperature was 26.167°C and he’s in full rigor mortis,’ said Linh. ‘Best estimate, he’s been dead for at least twenty-four to twenty-six hours.’
‘It’s—’ Henley checked her watch. ‘10.28 p.m. now so that would place time of death at around this time last night. A whole bloody day.’
‘Give or take. I’ll get a better estimate when I take the liver temperature.’
‘Who found him?’ Ramouter asked.
Henley turned around and pointed to a low wall about fifty metres away which separated the car park from the recycling and rubbish area. A young couple were with a uniformed officer, the woman occasionally pacing and shaking her head as though trying to get rid of the images inside her head.
‘According to the officer they’re with, they were bringing down rubbish to the bins,’ Henley said. ‘The woman, Juniper, said she saw the body and thought it was a crackhead who had fallen asleep. She said it wasn’t the first time, but then she got closer and realised he was dead.’
‘Who called the police?’ Ramouter asked.
‘Her brother. I just can’t believe he’s been lying here all night and all day. I mean look around you. Look how busy this estate is,’ Henley said, shaking her head.
The presence of not just the police but a forensic service van had garnered a lot of attention. Heads could be seen poking out of the windows above while groups of people stood on the large grassy mound that faced the rubbish area.
‘The people around here either really didn’t notice a dead man on the ground or they ignored it,’ she said.
‘Wouldn’t be the first time,’ Linh said. ‘Especially if it’s the norm to find passed out drug users next to the bins.’
‘That doesn’t excuse it,’ Henley said bitterly.
‘No, it doesn’t,’ Linh said.
‘Can you say if it was the fall that killed him?’ asked Ramouter.
‘For now, all of his visible injuries, the positioning of his limbs are consistent with a fall, a great fall,’ Linh said, looking up towards the upper floors of the block of flats. But you know the rules, youngling.’
Ramouter rolled his eyes. ‘Nothing conclusive until you open them up,’ he said.
‘Exactly. You’re learning,’ Linh said.
‘Do we know that it’s definitely him, Kaiden Longley? His face is a mess,’ Ramouter asked Henley.
Henley held out the small plastic evidence bag, containing a blue Barclays debit card and the familiar pink colours of a UK driving licence. She turned the bag around and showed Ramouter the side of the licence that contained the photograph and personal details of the man who was dead on the floor.
