Chapter 8: Crematorium Capers

Aiden rang Danny over the weekend to say he had gone out to Linda’s mothers address on Friday morning to get a DNA sample. He had arrived just as a hearse was pulling away. Checking with a neighbour he discovered her mum had died a week ago and was on the way to the crematorium.

‘I shot off after the hearse,’ he told him. ‘When we got to the crematorium there were only three people there, all neighbours. They told me she had no other relatives other than her daughter who was missing.’

‘I went round the back and spoke to the man in charge. I told him what I needed and said that if I could get a DNA sample, I wouldn’t need to stop the process. He spoke to the undertaker so we agreed the service would go ahead. Then when the coffin came through, the undertaker would open it and I would get a sample. Then they would close it up and put it in the furnace.’

‘Everything went well, I took a mouth swab, and just to be sure took a fingernail clipping and a lock of her hair. None of the mourners were any the wiser. I’ve just had a report back,’ he told him. ‘One of the first three bodies is Linda.’

‘Thanks for letting me know,’ Danny told him, ‘I’ll let the lady who sparked it all off know.’

‘One other thing,’ Aiden said. ‘Grace is back home and fine after her ordeal. She wants to meet you to say thank you. I told her we didn’t want your involvement to become public. She has promised to be discrete so suggested she met you at home or you came to her.’

‘Mum put two and two together from the local paper and my well camera,’ Danny told him, ‘So it’s ok if she comes to me. I’ll let her know.’ Aiden said, ‘How did your mum take it?’ ‘Once she knew I had taken Tom with me, she was ok and seemed quite pleased.’ Danny told him.

MONDAY

Monday morning Tom reported for duty at Gerry’s house. They spent the day going through the next builder’s bag of bits from the bottom of the well. By the end of the day that one was dealt with. The heap of bones was growing, and they now had two skulls. Towards the end of the day the pathologist arrived and told them they had identified one of the first three bodies. He also mentioned that they had had several relatives of missing women come forward to give a DNA sample.

At mid-morning break at school, Danny rang Amelia. ‘Have you seen Tom in the last few days,’ she asked. ‘No.’ Danny replied. ‘We spent the weekend together and I met his mum too.’ she told him. ‘All of the weekend?’ Danny said with a stress on the ‘All’. ‘Yes,’ she said ‘It was wonderful. I’m so happy. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.’

‘I’m delighted,’ Danny said. ‘But I have a bit of bad news.’ ‘Linda?’ she asked. ‘Yes,’ Danny told her, ‘It’s been confirmed that she was one of the first bodies recovered. I’m afraid her mum died last week too, so she never knew anything about it.’ ‘I’ve been expecting it,’ she said, ‘But that’s so sad about her mum. Thanks for letting me know, I’m not seeing Tom until Tuesday evening.’

‘How did you get on with his mum?’ Danny asked. ‘It was brilliant,’ Amelia said, ‘She made me so welcome and didn’t seem to mind that Tom was going to spend the whole weekend with me.’ ‘She clearly thinks as I do,’ Danny said. ‘The two of you are made for each other.’ ‘I hope so, I do hope so.’ she said. ‘Have to go,’ she said, ‘Customer approaching. Speak soon. Bye.’

Monday evening Tom went home and had dinner with his mum. Over the meal they talked about Amelia. ‘She’s a lovely girl,’ his mum said, ‘I warmed to her immediately.’ ‘We’re planning a week’s holiday on the canal soon.’ Tom told her. ‘We’re also going to take a trip down to the south coast to visit her mum. She’s lived there with her sister since Amelia’s dad died a few years ago.’

‘Meeting the parents already,’ his mum said laughing, ‘It sounds serious.’ ‘It is, mum,’ he told her, ‘I want to spend the rest of my life with her.’ ‘I guessed as much.’ she said smiling. ‘How does Amelia feel about it?’ ‘I haven’t said anything yet,’ he told her, ‘I didn’t want her to feel rushed.’

‘You don’t have to propose marriage to her to let her know how you’re feeling,’ his mum said. ‘Talk to her about it. Then you both know where you stand. Are you staying at hers tomorrow?’ When he said, ‘Yes,’ she told him, ‘Well there’s your chance.’

After he had washed up, Tom went up to his room and rang Amelia. They chatted for ages then parted saying how much they were both looking forward to tomorrow night.

Tom went back downstairs and spent the evening with his mum. ‘Have you told Uncle Derek yet?’ she asked him. ‘No,’ Tom said, ‘It hadn’t crossed my mind. Anyway, I haven’t been in the station for a while.’ ‘He’s been very good to you,’ his mum said, ‘Don’t let him find out from someone else.’

‘I’ll tell you what,’ she said, ‘Why don’t you and Amelia come here for dinner on Wednesday night. I’ll invite Derek and Denise too then he can meet her.’

‘That would be great mum, thanks.’ he said.

TUESDAY

The next day they dealt with the third bag and found another skull. Mid-afternoon they emptied the fourth bag and made a start on sorting the contents.

Once they had finished for the day and Tom had ensured the police guard had turned up and knew his way around, he set off for Amelia’s. On arrival they had a hug and a kiss then he went for a shower.

He came out of the bathroom, with just a towel round his waist. He went over to the drawer Amelia had cleared for him so he could have some spare clothes at the flat. Amelia watched from the kitchen area in between cooking. He dropped his towel on the floor and put a clean pair of shorts on, followed by a T shirt and a pair of trousers.

Amelia felt a lovely warm glow inside as she thought, ‘It’s just like we’re a married couple. He seems so at home and at ease with me too.’ Tom took his towel back into the bathroom and returned to the kitchen.

They had another long hug and a kiss then sat down at the table to eat. ‘How was your day?’ Amelia asked him. Tom told her they had found another skull, so the total now was six bodies. ‘We’ve only got half a bag to sort now,’ he said, ‘So I’ll probably be back on normal duties by the end of the week. Oh, and they’ve identified one of the first three bodies.’ he told her. ‘Apparently there are quite a number of relatives of missing girls who have come forward to give a DNA sample as well.’

‘I nearly forgot too,’ Tom told her. ‘Mum wants you to come for dinner tomorrow night, so you can meet her brother, my Uncle Derek, and his wife Denise. He’s been like a dad to me since dad died. It was him that persuaded me to join the police.’ Amelia smiled, that was the final confirmation for her that Toms mum had given her a seal of approval.

After they had washed up, it was a nice evening, so they walked down to the pub by the canal. After a drink in the garden watching the boats, they walked along the canal bank to the lock. They sat on the bench, simply content to be together.

After a while they saw a boat approaching so they got up to watch. It was a young couple of similar age to them. As the man got off with his winding handle, Tom said, ‘Hi, do you mind if I watch what you do, we’re planning to go on the canal soon?’

Like most people you meet on the canals, he was friendly. ‘You can give me a hand if you like,’ he said. ‘Would your lady friend like to go on board and see what it’s like?’

He called over to the boat, ‘Passenger coming on board.’ Tom helped Amelia onto the boat. ‘Hi, I’m Glenda,’ the lady introduced herself. Come and sit at the stern with me, then once we’re through the lock I’ll show you round.’

Tom was shown how to use the winding handle to open the paddles on the lock gate, then David handed it to him. ‘You cross over and have a go on the other gate.’ he told him. Tom was thrilled. The boat was already sinking downwards slowly with one paddle open.

As soon as Tom opened the paddle on the other gate, it went down even faster. Tom walked back across the gates and gave David his winder back.