2
Sandra stood next to the white board as Gerry and Brian joined them. She arched an eyebrow as she watched them head towards the sofas.
"Thanks for joining us." Sandra folded her arms as Gerry huffed. Ted smirked slightly, knowing that Gerry's time keeping would always be a source of contention for Sandra. Sasha rolled her eyes.
"Sorry Guv. What we got then?"
Sandra narrowed her eyes for a moment. She knew Gerry was aware of the case. She had already spoken about it, as soon as she had realised Gerry had been on the original team.
"1982 Karen Spaulding and Lucy May Elliot were found dead in an area of London notorious for sex workers." Sandra paused. "Karen was twenty, Lucy 21. Not much more than kids."
"And neither of em were Londoners." Gerry added. "Karen was from South Wales and Lucy was a Brummie. Came to London for Uni."
"How do you know this?" Dan asked as Gerry shrugged.
"I was the junior detective on the case. Before you ask, we did everything by the book. I'd been seconded to CID. Covering sickness." He explained. "It looked like the girls had been adding to their grants by working in brothels."
Steve shook his head, thinking of his own toddler daughter. "Prozzies?"
"No." Sandra stared. "Karen worked on the door. Let the men into the 'massage parlour' but her post-mortem showed she was still a virgin. As for Lucy, it seems she helped the madam of the brothel; Sorry massage parlour. Her long term boyfriend was initially arrested but without evidence." Sandra shrugged. Gerry looked at the carpet.
"So why reopen this now?" Dan asked. "Two murders, nearly 40 years ago. No suspects. What's the new angle?"
"Two dead girls not enough for you?" Gerry huffed.
"Gerry!" Sandra snapped. "Last month Lucy's boyfriend turned up. He's since married and had a family but said the man that had killed the women had contacted him at his work. To apologise."
"We did everything by the book back then." Gerry stated firmly. "At least as far as I know. Someone obviously messed up but as far as I know there weren't anyone on the take. Not then."
Sandra nodded, she had known Gerry had been the 'last man standing' in a group of corrupt coppers - that despite three ex wives, young daughters and a huge amount of debt at the time he hadn't been turned. She smiled slightly- whether that had been his personal integrity, refusal to do as he was told or sheer stubbornness she had no idea.
"Brian, Jack can you both dig through the original case files? Dan and Sasha go talk to the girls employers and the Uni. Get a picture of their comings and goings. Who they were with, academic success, friends etc." She paused as Steve stood up. "Ted, Steve go see the boyfriend. See what his mysterious caller is on about."
"Guv?" Gerry looked up at her.
"We are going to talk to the forensics team and your old colleagues." Sandra stared at him as he nodded.
"I was only a youngster then. Most of CID were at least ten years older than me. Bet half of them are dead!" Gerry huffed. Jack , who was now standing behind him narrowed his eyes.
"They'd be my age!"
"Gerry." Sandra huffed. "Grab your coat. We're off out." She marched away, leaving Gerry with no choice but to follow her.
Xxxxxxxx
