Body on a Sofa - Chapter 3

Body on a Sofa – Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Once Alfy returned to the station, he grabbed his things and headed home. Tomorrow they would get on with the search through the list of Morgan'

s schoolmates, that DC Strange had managed to get hold of. As well as interviewing Mrs. Smith, the mother, and also Michael Mitchell the ex-husband.

SOCO had been good, but the preliminary report did not mention much about the back gate and alley behind the house. Although it had been checked for traces of blood or fingerprints, Alfy needed to see the area for himself, to work and think about routes to the gate.

The next morning Alfy got up earlier than normal, showered and dressed, had a cup of coffee and headed out to check the alley. He arrived there just after 8.30am, a slight drizzle beginning to fall. This made it all the more important he got to see the scene before it was completely ruined.

The back gate showed the signs of the fingerprint powder, already rain streaked, and the police crime tape was hanging down to the side. Alfy stood away from the gate and studied the ground. He could see nothing, and so had no idea from that whether the killer had gone left or right out of the gate.

Looking back the way he had come, Alfy could see a main road. The one on which he had parked. Unlikely to be the escape route he thought, as that street was busy, and also had council CCTV. That left turning right out of the gate. Alfy walked to the end of the alley and looked around. Obliquely to the right, across the street, was another back alley, so Alfy crossed the road to look.

When he entered this alley, he could see that there was greenery beyond the end and walked down to the fence. Just to the left there was a path that led between a field and a stand of trees.

Alfy got out his phone and checked on his ordnance survey app to see where the path led. He saw that at the end of the path was a track. He decided that he would need to check this path and track, as they formed part of an easy, relatively unopserved, access to the rear of Morgans house. He phoned his DI, who he knew would be at her desk.

‘Morning ma’am. How are you?’

‘I’m okay Alfy. What is it.’

‘Firstly. Michael Mitchell didn’t contact me yesterday. When I get to the station I’ll follow that up. But at the moment I’m investigating a thought I had last night.’

‘Go ahead,’ said DI Walker.

‘Well. I knew that SOCO had checked the back gate for prints etc. We know the front door was bolted from inside, so he must have accessed the house from the back alleyway. Most logically he would have turned away from the busier street when he left, though he may have arrived that way. If you follow that train of thought, the rest of the alley leads to a much quieter street, and another alleyway just across the road that leads to a path and then a track. I’m wondering whether the killer could have parked on the track, and walked the path, which is only about 300m, to get to the back alleys. He could possibly do that without being seen on either the track or path.’

‘And you are thinking it might be worth the crime scene guys having a look at this possible route. It is a definite possibility, but can you give me some corroborating evidence.’

Well Ma’am. What I intend to do now is to check with the houses either side of the two alleys to see if they have any CCTV or doorbell cameras. Then I’ll come back into the station.’

‘Okay. It’s worth a shot,’ replied DI Walker. ‘You do that. Do you need help?’

‘No. It’s probably only four to six houses anyway. And I’ve already tasked DC Strange to troll the lists. I’ll be as quick as I can.’ With that he said goodbye and hung up.

Alfy retraced his steps towards the second alleyway checking the backs of the houses for any CCTV. There was none to be seen and so Alfy continued down the alleyway to the front and looked at the houses around the ends of the two alleys. He knew that door to door enquiries were still on going, but had so far drawn a blank. This street had been done, but he knew he had to follow up his hunch.

The second house on the left of the second alley did have a camera upon the wall, above the upstairs window on the left. After checking the other houses and finding no cameras, Alfy went to the house and knocked. After a while a man came to the door. Alfy already had his warrant card in his hand and showed it.

‘Hello. I’m DS Morrow.’ He showed his warrant card. ‘Please could I have a word with you about your camera. And you are sir?’

‘Hi. Alan Stocking. If it’s about the murder, I’ve already spoken to a Constable. My wife and I were out until late on the evening in question.’

‘That’s alright Mr. Stocking. I want to know whether your camera was on then, and if it saves a record.”

‘Well yes. It should do. I can bring it up, I think. Come in.’

‘Thank you. I’d like to look at times between 8.00pm and 9.30.’

‘This way then Officer. Terrible business. Not safe in your own home nowadays.’ replied Alan leading Alfy to an office at the back of the house. ‘It’s just here then. It’ll only take a few moments.’

Within moments Alan had managed to pull up a recording of the required time frame. It showed a man walked diagonally across the field of vision although it was not possible to say for sure that he had come from the lane, but his trajectory would suggest so. Likewise, he was definitely walking in the direction of the alley, and entered it moments later. Alfy asked Alan to keep the recording going, noting the time of the first crossing. Sure, enough about ten minutes later the same man came back, walking from the first alley to the second. Alfy asked Alan to pause when the man was mid-street, and zoom in. The image was not pinpoint, but the body shape suggested a man. More of the face could be seen, and the flesh tone was definitely pale or white.

Alfy asked if the recorded footage from just before the man appeared the first time to just after he disappeared again could be sent to his email. Alan agreed, and did that as soon as Alfy gave him his work email. Alfy thanked him, saying they would contact him again, if need be, and then left.

Alfy again phoned his DI. It went to answerphone.

‘Morning Ma’am. I’m just ringing to update you. I checked the houses around the alleys, and found one camera. Luckily, the owner keeps his records up to date. There was footage of a man crossing the road from one alley to the other and then back again. It fits our time frame. I’m coming in now so I’ll be able to go through it with you.’

Alfy hung up and then headed back to the station. Parking his car, he got out and saw DI Walker coming towards him.

‘Ok DS Morrow, about face. I want you to take me to the scene and show me your theory. I think we may be on to something.’

‘Yes Ma’am. I’ll explain in more detail as we drive. I have the footage on my mobile, so you can see it.’

They both got in the car, and after opening his phone and giving it to his DI, Alfy drove back the way he came, explaining as they went. Alfy parked at the end of Morgans alley, and they both walked across to the mouth of the second alley. 

‘The footage unfortunately doesn’t show the man coming out of the alley because of the hedge on this side of the garden. But I think that if he had come down the street, he would probably have crossed the road earlier. That way he could use the cover of the bushes overhanging the path on that side of the street. Also, the way he appears, looks as if he is right up against the hedge, before he moves out to cross the road. This might be because he cut the corner as he exited the alley, or had kept close to the wall, in the shadows, as he came down the alley.’ said Alfy, pointing to the corner of the hedge.

‘Ok. I buy that. The thinking is then, he came from that alley behind us,’ she replied, turning to gesture at the alley, ‘and crossed the road into that one.’

‘Yes, and from there it’s just a few houses down to Morgan's back gate.’

‘So have you walked down the path and track,’ asked DI Walker.

‘Only a little way, but I know from my map app that there is a track at the end of the path, which heads to the main road. I’ve not looked at that properly though. My working hypothesis at the moment is that he used the track and then the path to access Morgan. To my mind it is too much of a coincidence that Morgan is murdered the same day she is stood up.’

‘That’s a good thought Alfy. I think the work we are doing with the school lists may help tie in with the CCTV footage. Can we look at the track?’

‘Yep, but it may be better to drive. Looks like rain.’ Alfy smiled and ushered DI Walker towards his car. Checking his phone app, Alfy drove to the road end of the track. according to the map, the track met the path after 400m.

‘If he parked a car down the track, then it would most likely be before the path.  Therefore, not too far.’

‘Cooking on gas Alfy.’ It was the DI’s turn to smile.

‘I’ll park at the end and lets just walk up.’

At this the DI grimaced.

‘Don’t worry,’ Alfy continued. ‘I’ve got a spare pair of wellingtons in the boot. DC Strange and I carry a pair of each other’s wellies to cover both of our cars. Less mess. I hope they fit.’

‘Alright let’s go’.

They both got out and Alfy got the boots from the boot. And an umbrella, some plastic evidence bags and a spade. They started walking up the track, in the grass between the tyre marks. These appeared to be farm machinery, and fairly recent.

About 350m into the track, it widened out so that there was a fairly large grass verge. On the left-hand side there were wheel marks consistent of a car pulling onto and then off it.

DI Walker looked at the marks and said, ‘Looks like a car pulled onto this verge and then later back off it’

‘Yes, that’s what I see. He probably pulled off it so that he didn’t block the track for any other vehicle using it. I bet if we look up there,’ Alfy gestured up the track, ’he drove up to the path and turned around, where there is room.’

‘I think you’ve shown me enough. I’ll get onto CSI and uniform. We need to secure this part of the track and the path. We may only find some footprints but who knows,’ DI Walker said.

‘According to the CSI report there was a smudged footprint on the carpet. Could that possibly leave a trace somewhere else. Perhaps we should check the two alleys and the road between.

‘Agreed. I’ll get the areas secured and let CSI get a closer look. Good work Alfy. Let’s hope we get something from this.’ Her telephone call was answered and she continued, ‘Hello, this is DI Walker. Sergeant Green, I need the uniforms doing door to door in the Morgan area to secure a further couple of sites. I’m also getting in touch with CSI. I’ll contact the Super and fill him in on progress. Cheers.’ She hung up before Sgt Green could reply other than ‘Yes, Ma’am.’

The first uniforms arrived within 10 minutes and DI Walker placed one each on the track, each end of the path and on each ginnel. They put blue tape across the various openings to secure the area and awaited the CSI.

When they arrived the first team started on the track, with the view to clearing this first to allow passage of farm vehicles. They did not hurry their work but took plaster casts of the car tyres on the verge and at the end of the path. The patterns they were able to get were different, but appeared to be the same width. Measurements of the tyre treads, and their distance apart were taken, and everything photographed. The CSI officers then carefully checked the track from the verge to the path, finding a partial sole impression.

Repeating their search on the footpath revealed a similar shoe tread in the mud around a puddle. Some litter was picked up and bagged, but probably had no bearing on the case.

Likewise with the two passages, nothing other than another partial footprint in the back passage outside Morgan’s house. On the curb outside the end of the second passage, leading to the path and track, there was a scuffed stain. It was dark in colour and samples were scraped for analysis.

All of these findings were pulled together and the report sent to DI Walker. All the shoe marks, from the verge, the path and passage, matched as fragments from the same footwear. This therefore showed the route taken by the killer. Also, they matched the partial print on the carpet. The stain on the curb turned out to be human blood, and matched Morgan’s blood group. DNA analysis would later confirm this as indeed Morgan’s blood. Alfy had been proved right, but they were still no nearer to finding the killer.

After two days the collection of evidence at the scene around the lanes was deemed to be completed, and the lanes were reopened and the crime scene tape removed. Door to door enquiries and gathering of any footage from door cams was also complete. The latter two had yielded little to add to what the police already knew.

When the tyre marks were analysed, forensics were able to identify the size and makes of the tyres. There were three separate treads, two of which were similar. Working on an idea that the two similar treads were from the same car narrowed down the possible number of makes and ages, but could not accurately determine the possible models.

The shoe treads had been narrowed down to a make, Nirvana, size 10. Nirvana was not a particularly well-known brand, and was not sold in many outlets. This would be a possible clue that could be used to identify the killer, and so finding all local suppliers became a priority. As it turned out, there was only one, a gentleman’s outfitters in Lytham St Annes, Harrisons.

Alfy and DC Strange went across to Lytham the following day, after Alfy had given a courtesy call to his opposite number in Fylde. When they arrived it was raining, and the streets were very much deserted. There were no other customers in the shop, and after showing their cards, Alfy asked if he could speak to the manager. This was a Mr. Sands, who after a few minutes came through and asked them if they would like to talk in the office. When they got to the office, it turned out to be an area under the stairs at the end of a corridor. However, it was private enough, but DC Strange had to stand and take notes.

Alfy introduced himself again, and explained why they were there. He showed Mr. Sands the trainer tread and asked him if he would be able to identify which model of shoe it had come from, had they sold any of this type, and if so to whom.

‘Well. It looks like the Slip and Fit range. These trainers are lace free, and just slip onto your feet, and are a reasonable fit that ensures security and comfort.’ With that Mr. Sands got up and got an example of a boxed pair of ‘Slip and Fit’ from one of the shelves that lined the back wall of the office. He took both out and turned them up-side down. The tread in the picture shown matched that on the left foot trainer. Taking the other pictures out, it was easily determined that they were from the same range, one other print being the right.

‘Can you narrow it down to which model Mr. Sands?’ asked Alfy.

‘Not really, because all of the range has the same tread,’ replied Mr. Sands.

‘Our forensic experts have told us that these treads would suggest a size 10 in footwear. So firstly, please can we see a pair of size tens to check the tread against these pictures. And secondly, would you be able to cross reference your sales to see who has bought a size 10 ‘Slip and Fit’?’

‘You must understand DS Morrow, our client records are private and I can’t give you that information, without a request in the formal way. And I would have to check with the owner.’

‘Two things Mr. Sands. We are trying to catch a murderer who has killed at least once, and may again. So, your cooperation would be very helpful. Secondly. If you won’t give me that info, which I assume you can as you immediately said that it was confidential, I shall return later with a warrant to seize those records. But, to help you out, I will allow you to phone the owner now and appraise him of the situation.’

‘Do you have jurisdiction in Lytham.’ Mr. Sands was trying not to bother the owner, as the two were not the best of buddies.

‘You are correct in thinking that Fylde have their own policing team. But both are part of the Lancashire Police Force, for whom I work. So, I have some authority. I would get a search warrant from Preston which would give me authority to seize the information, but would have to liaise with Fylde if I needed bodies to help. So, to avoid all that aggravation, it would help tremendously if you and the owner gave us the information voluntarily,’ replied Alfy. ‘Your call.’

Mr. Sands decided that he was beaten, and phoned the owner, a Mr. Tomlinson. When he was told of the situation, he asked to speak with DS Morrow. Alfy explained the case in more detail, and why the information was so important. Mr. Tomlinson agreed and when put back onto Mr. Sands told him to give DS Morrow the information. Half an hour later, Alfy and DC Strange left with lists of dates of sales, and most of the names of the buyers. It had not been possible to get all of the names, as not all the sales had been done with a debit or credit card, some were in cash, and not everybody had signed up for the newsletter. But there was quite a lot to go on.

DC Andy Ledbury had been tasked with following up the tyre treads. Forensic had suggested that they belonged to a Japanese brand SUV, having also given DC Ledbury the distances along each axle, and the distance of the axles apart. He had been able to narrow it down to three models, each from a different Japanese manufacture.

‘Good work Andy. Try and narrow it down further. But for now, could you move on to CCTV in the area and see if anything matches any of these models in our time frame.’ Alfy turned from giving DC Ledbury a job, and asked DC Strange to start on the sales information obtained from Harrisons, and compare it with names found on the school lists.

After about half an hours work, DC Strange had checked the list supplied by the school with the list of the sales from Harrisons. There were no hits, which was disappointing. It was still possible that the killer was on that list so the work on narrowing and tracking down these names would continue.