Part 9 (1/2)

'It extends under the yard at the back as well as the building.' David had studied the architect's plans.

'There have to be fifty vans here, as well as the cars.' Ben eyed the Rolls-Royce, Mercedes, Alfa Romeos and BMWs lined up in front of the door that connected with Barnes Building.

'Sixty-two vans and eighteen cars.' David consulted the list a junior officer had drawn up. 'The Rolls and three other cars belong to Jack Barnes. Zee drove the gold BMW. The rest belong to the other residents. Michael Barnes also owns a van.'

'And the twelve-year-old Astra?' Ben asked. The battered, rust-spotted car was parked some distance from the Barnes's cars.

'Belongs to the night porter, Damian. Ted Levett doesn't have a car.' David waved to an officer. 'The van with the plates painted with photo-blocker is over there, ma'am.'

'The darkest corner,' Amy observed. The wall lights were low illumination and set more than five metres apart.

They headed for the van, which was parked in the furthest corner from the street exit. Spotlights had been set up around it. The bodywork glistened with fingerprint powder. Two officers suited, booted with gloves and hats were waiting, skeleton keys in hand.

'Prints?' Amy asked.

'Only smudges, ma'am.' The officer handed out sheets of paper. 'Information on the van.'

'It was reported stolen?' Ben said.

'Over a week ago.'

'But it was owned by Jack Barnes?' Ben checked.

'His company, sir.'

'Anyone notice it here before today?' Amy moved close to a spotlight and scanned the sheet.

'No one we've spoken to, ma'am.'

Amy went to the box of protective clothing and handed one suit to Ben and another to David. When they'd finished covering their clothes, she nodded to the officer holding the keys.

'The cab first, ma'am?'

'Yes.'

The officer opened the door and shone a torch inside. 'Street maps of London.' He pushed the bundle aside with his gloved hand. 'Plug in satnav, newspaper. Brown paper bag ...'

'Careful,' David warned.

'It contains a half-eaten sausage roll covered in mould, sir.'

'Anything on the floor?' Amy asked.

'Footprints, ma'am.'

'Leave them for now, we'll check the back. Dust the entire cab for prints finger, foot and swab for DNA.'

'Yes, ma'am.' The officer slammed the door and walked to the side door. He opened it and reeled back into Ben.

Ben picked up the torch the officer had dropped. He shone it into the van.

Amy had been a police officer for four years. She thought she'd seen all the horrors of life. But she'd never been faced with anything like the interior of that van.

'It's a slaughterhouse.'

Amy heard Ben but was too stunned to reply.

David Reece walked a few steps and vomited. He slumped against the wall. Tears were running down his cheeks. 'Did you see her face?' he whispered hoa.r.s.ely. 'Her eyes. I've never seen such terror in a corpse's eyes.'

The barrier lifted at the entrance to the car park. The constable manning it stepped in front of the incoming car.

Ben whispered to Amy. 'Jack Barnes has arrived.'

Amy a.s.sumed command. 'Sergeant Reece, close the van. Call the pathologist and forensic teams and order them here.'

'What about formally identifying the body?' David Reece was pale, still trembling.

'The DNA of the heart delivered to Jack Barnes has been identified. The corpse in that van is female, dressed in a similar outfit to the one Zee Barnes was wearing on CCTV. The corpse's chest is open, the heart missing. All the evidence points to the body being Zee Barnes, Sergeant Reece.' Amy knew she was being unfair to David but, after seeing what was left of Zee Barnes, she was struggling to maintain her self-control.

Jack got out of the car, accompanied by his secretary, Alice, and by the police family liaison officer, Irene Conway. His face was drained of colour. His shoulders stooped. He had aged twenty years in the few hours since Amy and Ben had seen him at midday.

'Inspector Stuart?'

'You have your orders,' Ben barked at the a.s.sembled officers. They all left, including David Reece.

Amy waited until the officers were out of earshot. 'We've found your wife's body, Mr Barnes. I'm sorry ...'

'You told me you'd keep me informed of developments,' he reproached her.

'We only discovered her a few minutes ago.'

'Where?' Jack's voice was harsh.

'In this van. It's one of yours, reported stolen a week ago.'

Jack reached for the door handle. Ben caught his hand before he touched it. 'The crime scene has to be preserved for the forensic teams, sir.'

'You opened the van?' Jack challenged.

'We're wearing protective clothing and we didn't step inside,' Amy informed him.

'Have you got a suit I can wear?'

'Please, Mr Barnes, believe me, you don't want to see inside that van,' Amy pleaded.

'I have a right to see my wife.' He glared at her.