It was afternoon before they were back at the station together. They had very little up on the white board so far. Chief Superintendent Jean Innocent was shaking her head.
"No identification, no witnesses. No one saw anything except the motorist who called it in?"
"That's what they're saying, though it's not the most cop-friendly neighborhood. The PCs reported most people would not even answer the door."
"Lewis, don't you have an informant or two out there?"
"I'm going to try to find them tonight, but right now it's too early to go looking."
"Could this have ties to organized crime? This seems like the sort of thing you see with drug lords or the Russian Mafia."
"Could be anything at this point, Ma'am."
"Well, you two be careful. Lewis, if you go by yourself tonight, make sure there's uniform nearby at all times."
They each grabbed a mug of tea on their way back to the office, then sat sipping a while at their desks. Finally, Lewis broke the silence.
"That's an image that'll take a long time to fade."
Hathaway shuddered. "It would help if we had anything to go on."
"We'll put out an appeal as soon as we get Hobson's official report. But I doubt it will reveal anything we don't already know." He paused a moment. "I don't suppose your mother will be happy when she sees the nasty kind of things we make you deal with."
"Not a bit. And if we don't get any leads this evening, I will have the unpleasant experience of being in the same room when she sees the appeal on the telly. I don't suppose you'd like to go for a pint to get me out of it."
Lewis shook his head. "I have to record the appeal. And I should be here for a couple hours after it airs in case we get any viable leads. And then I need to see if I can scare up a snitch or two."
But he took the opportunity to change the subject. "You know, I thought your mother was really very nice. From the way you talk, I was expecting a dragon lady of some sort."
"She was on her good behavior. I know she can be quite charming, but that's her way of playing with her food before she eats it. Just don't cross her."
"So, if you're here and your dad lives somewhere else, is she just home alone in London all the time?"
"Hardly. She's very busy. She's involved in tons of causes and organizations and knows everyone. She's always doing things. And not just in London, she knows people everywhere. She even knows the Chief Super from something they're both members of."
Lewis winced. "Is that good or bad?"
"It hasn't caused me any problems yet, that's all I know."
They were interrupted by Dr. Hobson, calling to let them know the post-mortem report was ready. They headed over to the mortuary, both hoping they would not be required to view the body again. In this, they were fortunate. Laura had almost nothing to add to what they knew in the morning, except to confirm the man bled to death rather slowly from ninety-six stab wounds and his amputated organ; he had been bound and gagged with tape, then apparently transported wrapped in a wool blanket, and the tape was removed some time after he died.
"So, we should know probably by tomorrow if the DNA turns up a match anywhere." She concluded. "Sorry I can't be of more help at this point."
Hathaway tried one last push. "Doctor, I don't suppose you'd be available for a pint this evening?"
Lewis chuckled a bit. "He's trying to avoid going home. His mum is visiting and he doesn't want to be there when she hears about the horrific case that's getting his hands all dirty."
"Your mother is staying with you?" Laura couldn't hide how funny she thought that was. "I'm not sure I'd be willing to get you out of that even if I could. But sorry, no, I have a ream of overdue reports to get out."
Hathaway looked down. "It was worth a try."
* * *