White Rose

Chapter 1

As the woman stepped out of the shower, water cascading off her wet hair, she coolly appraised the reflection in the mirror – 5'8", slim and athletic, lithe like a cat. Vibrant green eyes stared back as she drew a comb through her long red hair. She didn't notice the scars marking her body – to her they were a road-map of her life, they didn't bother her any more, to outsiders they marked her out as someone different, someone with a past. Her face tightened slightly as the comb caught in the tangles pulling at her shoulder, still stiff after all this time. She frowned, from pain or annoyance, who could tell? Her past – that was hers, you could probably find out if you needed to with the right connections. Her name – she would tell you to choose and she would answer to it, as to her real name, not many people knew.

The woman moved restlessly into the room collecting her discarded clothing, putting it on knowing it was time to leave. She took one last look at the prone figure on the bed, collected her keys and walked out. The only movement in the room was the slow drip of blood as the man's life drained away.

'3-7, 4-5' the call came over the radio as Bodie flung the Capri round into the last space outside CI5 headquarters.

'Couldn't resist mate, last space' said Bodie grinning at his partner.

'Go ahead Control.'

'Report to Alpha 1 immediately.'

'On our way, 4-5 out.'

Bodie raised one elegant eyebrow as he looked across at Doyle, 'What now?'

Doyle shrugged 'We'll find out soon enough, but I'll bet it's not a pay rise!'

'Ray,' said Bodie staring past his partner 'how come Murph's parking the Escort out on the street?'

'Well, some wise-arse nicked the last space!' As Doyle turned to look the car took off with clouds of smoke and screaming gears.

'Couldn't have been Murph, that's not his style, he'd have blocked us in.'

The two men put the car out their minds as they made their way to the Controller's office.

'Nice of you to join me, what kept you?' asked Cowley when they had closed the door.

'What us, Sir, nothing' said Bodie, 'why the rush?

'There's been another one, this time at the Majestic.'

'The Majestic, Sir?'

'Yes Doyle,' Cowley replied 'take a look at the photos and then get over there, see what you can find out. Top priority we need to find out who and why!'

Doyle grabbed the file as the men left the office. 'You drive Bodie and I'll give you the details on the way.' Doyle flicked through the photos as the Capri wove through the traffic.

'At least he died with a smile on his face' commented Bodie as he stole a sideways glance at one of the photos. 'I reckon it was a woman.'

'Bodie just drive. Anyway how can you tell?'

'Look at the room – it's the same as the others, the bed's all messed up and both pillows are dented. Also there's a comb on the side, really Doyle none of the men could have been said to have a full head of hair, unlike you.'

'That doesn't mean a thing – it might have been left by the previous occupant.' Doyle carried on reading the file, filling in the man's life for his partner, ignoring the jibe.

'So what's the link?' asked Bodie.

'None' replied Doyle 'other than they were all low level civil servants who happened to end up dead in hotel rooms. They didn't know each other, never worked together and were all too low to know anything. Betty's run all the usual checks, nothing remarkable about them, just linked by their deaths, oh and a rose.'

'A rose? What kind of rose?' asked Bodie, a chill ran down his spine. 'Doyle, a rose?'

Doyle cut his partner off mid-sentence 'Didn't Cowley send Murph back to the Imperial to ask more questions?'

'Murph? Yeah I think he did, why?'

'He's just pulled in down the road.'

'The Imperial's the other side of the river.'

'Can't be then, must be another white Escort.'

'Not like we've got the only white Escort in London is it?' replied Bodie as he turned to look at the car, his mind still on roses and why they made him feel uncomfortable, every hotel had flowers in their rooms, even roses.

As Bodie got out of the car the camera shutter clicked capturing the brooding CI5 man scanning the street. The woman slipped the car into gear and moved off slowly this time as the men went into the hotel.

'So we know the men didn't check in alone, they all checked in with a woman, any details?' Cowley asked 'Is it the same woman?'

'Hard to say Sir, all we have from the receptionists is a vague description of a tall woman, average age, average build, average bloody everything!' replied Doyle throwing the file down on the desk.

'Apart from the eyes, Sir'

'Eyes, Bodie?'

'Yes Sir, they all said she had striking eyes.'

'And?'

'Oh sorry, yeah' Bodie seemed distracted and distant. 'They all said she had striking green eyes, vivid in fact.' The man shivered.

Cowley glanced at Doyle, who shrugged imperceptibly.

'They couldn't agree on hair colour, dress anything.'

'But is it the same woman? Anything else?'

'The rose' said Doyle.

Bodie seemed to be startled at the mention of the rose but covered it with a cough.

'What about the rose?' asked Cowley.

'One has been found on every body Sir' said Doyle.

Bodie closed his eyes, took a deep breath and asked 'What's so special about the roses?'

'They're always white' said Doyle.

'With a hint of pink?' Bodie pursued.

'Yes, why?' Cowley asked him.

'Nothing Sir, just thinking' replied Bodie 'lots of hotels have flowers in their rooms, very handy!'

'Bodie! Och it's not much to go on – no motive, no link just a tall average woman with green eyes' said Cowley.