With Emily’s permission, Anya phoned Meira Sorrenti after the examination. It took less than half an hour for her to arrive with Hayden Richards.
They chose to interview Emily in the same room in which the young woman had sat to steel herself for what lay ahead, and sat down to wait.
While Emily finished showering and speaking to Mary, Anya took the opportunity to brief the detectives.
“This one’s got all the hallmarks of the others. Same kind of vaginal tear, same saying, and the knife mark on the clavicle. She’s pretty small and slight, so the mark isn’t continuous. But it looks like the same weapon was used.”
“Did you get a photo?” Meira spoke and then bit her lip.
“Not this time, no.” With the chance of any images being leaked, Anya refused to photograph any more injuries. “I’ve measured it and recorded it on a diagram.”
Hayden was surprisingly quiet and let Sorrenti take the lead.
“Fucking Lerner,” Sorrenti said, rocking on her toes.
Hayden added, “Surveillance didn’t pick him up until this morning. It was almost as if he knew. Platt and his wife swear they didn’t say anything to him, but he’s got to be smart enough to know why you were sniffing around their place.”
Meira pulled a face. “My guess is Platt spilt her guts.”
Hayden smiled. “By the way, we found the condoms in Lerner’s garage. And it looks like we got the weapon that killed Liz Dorman. It’s fairly new and had been cleaned, but there were still traces of blood on it, mostly up near the handle.”
“What kind of knife?” Anya asked.
“Boning, really pointy blade. He’s our boy, for sure.”
Meira stuck her hands in her pockets, like a child caught stealing from the lolly jar. “Looks like you were right about Willard,” she said. “Lerner has been round at Lillian Willard’s home. He could have hidden the bloodied knife in the laundry basket, or even wiped it clean with Geoff’s shirt.”
Anya knew that was the closest thing to an apology that the detective was capable of giving. There was no point holding a grudge.
“You surprised me the way you still looked into the anomalies.”
Meira flicked her fringe and shifted uncomfortably. “I may be gullible and pig-headed, but I’m definitely not stupid.”
“Agreed.” Both women smiled.
Emily entered the corridor and appeared more child than adult. Her frame seemed more delicate silhouetted in the light. Anya excused herself to let the detectives take their statement.
Thinking about how Emily’s world had forever changed, she desperately hoped that Lerner would be stopped before he hurt or killed again. She found herself saying a silent prayer, just in case God was listening.
The detectives reappeared. Hayden took a call on his mobile in the corridor and signalled for Anya to wait. She walked further away, not wanting to eavesdrop.
“Shit,” he said, rubbing his mouth. “That was the lab. There are two types of blood on the knife. One is Liz Dorman’s, but the other doesn’t belong to Lerner.”
Anya considered, “So, either he’s not the killer…”
“Or there’s been another victim, only we haven’t found her yet. My money’s on the rape victim who withdrew her statement and hasn’t been seen since.”
Sorrenti began to dial. “We’d better liaise with homicide and pick this bastard up.”