‘I’ll do it,’ said Dev before anyone else could speak. ‘I could use the money. Just found out the wife’s expecting again,’ he clarified, and there was a round of congratulations.
‘OK, great,’ said Strike. ‘You’ve got his address. Anything you can get that might make him look a bit less knight-erranty to a schoolgirl…
‘So, on to Fingers. We’re expecting him back from the Maldives tomorrow lunchtime, so it’ll be business as usual from his arrival at Heathrow at twelve-forty. And I’ve got a meeting with that guy with the mad hair and the patent-pending problem on Monday. I’ll let you know how that goes.
‘Anyone got any issues with the rest of this month’s rota? Pat’s drawing up March now, so talk dates with her if you—’
‘I wondered whether anyone could swap this Sunday with me,’ said Robin. ‘I’m supposed to be tailing Fingers. I wouldn’t ask, but there’s a viewing of a flat I really want to see. They’re only showing it on Sundays.’
‘No problem,’ said Strike, ‘I’ll do your shift, if you don’t mind doing my Monday.’
The swap was agreed and the discussion descended into small talk, so Robin typed out a quick email on her phone to the estate agent.
A notification from BBC News slid across her phone screen as she typed. Something about stabbing victims being named; she swiped it away. There was so much knife crime in London it was hard to keep up: the eight-inch-long scar on Robin’s forearm, still raised, faintly pink and shiny, was the relic of such an attack.
The rest of the team was tidying away chairs or putting them back into their usual position. Rain continued to pound against the office windows. As Robin pressed send on her email, a second BBC notification slid across the screen. Ledwell and Blay discovered in Highgate Cemetery.
Robin stared at the screen for a few seconds, then tapped the notification with a finger. Somebody said goodbye to her but she didn’t answer, because she was waiting for the full story of the stabbing in Highgate Cemetery to load. The glass door of the office opened and closed. Midge and Barclay had left, chatting to each other, their footsteps dying away down the metal staircase.
Highgate Stabbing Victims Were Creators of Cult Cartoon
The victims of a twin stabbing yesterday evening in Highgate Cemetery have been named by Scotland Yard as Edie Ledwell, 30, and Josh Blay, 25, co-creators of Netflix hit animation The Ink Black Heart, which is set in the same London graveyard.
Ledwell’s body was discovered by a cemetery worker. Blay survived the attack and was taken to the Whittington Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
Police have asked members of the public who noticed anyone behaving unusually in the vicinity of the cemetery between 4pm and 6pm on the 12th February to call a dedicated hotline (number below). No description of an attacker has been released.
Ledwell and Blay created the surprise hit after meeting at North Grove Art Collective…
Through the loud thumping of blood in her ears, Robin registered that someone was talking to her. She looked up.
‘What’s the matter?’ said Strike sharply, because the colour had drained from Robin’s face.
‘That girl – woman – who wanted us to investigate the internet troll? She’s been murdered.’
11
But should the play
Prove piercing earnest,
Should the glee glaze
In death’s stiff stare,
Would not the fun
Look too expensive?
Would not the jest
Have crawled too far?
<Moderator Channel>
<13 February 2015 17.34>
Worm28: Hartella ?
Worm28: I can see you’re in here
Worm28: hello ?
Worm28: someone talk
Worm28: pleaes
>
<Morehouse has joined the channel>
Worm28: Morhuse , thank god have you seen ?
Morehouse: yeah
Worm28: I can ’t
Worm28: It can ’t be true can it ?
Worm28: oh god I can’t stop cryign
Worm28: it can ’t be true
Morehouse: I think it must be, Worm
Morehouse: They wouldn’t give out names unless they were sure.
Worm28: oh god
<Fiendy1 has joined the channel>
Fiendy1: have you heard
Worm28: yes
>
>
Fiendy1: anyone know anything?
Morehouse: no
Fiendy1: I’m fkn shaking
Worm28: I can ’t stop crying
Fiendy1: do you think Blay did it?
Worm28: what/ ? ?
Fiendy1: d’you think he stabbed her and then himself?
Worm28: why aer you saying that ?
Fiendy1: look at Twitter, that’s what they’re saying happened.
<Vilepechora has joined the channel>
<LordDrek has joined the channel>
LordDrek: you’ve all heard?
Worm28: yes
Fiendy1: yes
LordDrek: fuck
LordDrek: this is a fkn tragedy
Vilepechora: I know who my money’s on.
Fiendy1: ?
LordDrek: K** N****
Vilepechora: exactly. Crazy fkn bitch.
LordDrek: yeah, I’ve always thought she was a Jodi Arias in the making.
<Anomie has joined the channel>
Anomie: fuck
>
Anomie: you all seen?
Worm28: yes
<Hartella has joined the channel>
>
>
Anomie: fuck
>
>
>
Anomie: you all been struck dumb or something?
Fiendy1: no we’re just in shock
Worm28: I can ‘t stop cryign
>
Worm28: people on Twitter are saying it ‘s the fans fault
Fiendy1: how is it?
Worm28: they thikn a fan might of done it
>
>
>
>
>
Fiendy1: it could’ve been random
Fiendy1: like a mugging or something
Fiendy1: or someone mentally ill
Worm28: what kind of thing is that to say
Worm28: you think I could kill someon ?