PEEL-BEHIND THEIR EYES. Book 1 (Complete)

Chapter 21. The call

'Dr. Roper was a tall thin fifty-two-year-old man, a man who only accepted excellence and precision in his department, anything less was a failure in his eyes. He stood at the stainless steel work bench that ran the full length of the laboratory, his white lab coat rumpled up against its edge as he stretched up to grasp a sterile pipette from the shelf above. Ripping open the quick tear wrapper he cursed as his gloved hand fumbled the plastic tube to the floor. Annoyed at his clumsiness he flipped a switch and listened to the sample centrifuge speed up.

Bending down to retrieve the escaped pipette he was startled by the sudden sharp ring of the lab's phone. Standing up and throwing both the pipette and his latex gloves in the bin, Dr. Roper sighed and answered the phone.

"Yes?" he asked abruptly.

A quiet almost timid voice stuttered on the other end of the line.

"Oh, er Dr. Roper, I, er, have those results you've been waiting for. Oh, it's me, Irene, doctor"

Roper shook his head with annoyance and thought,

"Dear lord where do we find these assistant's". He knew very well that they were all university students, either on work experience or were here to subsidize their student grant.

"Yes Irene" he waited a moment "and?" He was running out of the little patience he had remaining.

"Oh! sorry Doctor, Dr. Goodard told me to tell you that the second DNA test you asked for was exactly the same as the first and that it is also a match to the same person, a Mr....."

Cutting her off sharply "Thank you, Irene"

Roper had stopped listening and before the assistant could finish her sentence he had hung up on her.

He wiped away the nervous sweat that had been prickling his forehead ever since reading the initial DNA results from the hair sample of Peels murdered girl. Now a satisfying smirk grew on his face as he lifted the phone receiver and dialed.

"Good morning" he almost cooed down the phone line "can I speak with DCI Peel, please. My name, Roper, Dr. Roper. Thank you".

The smirk on his face broadened as he thought "This'll wipe the smug look off of his face, ha"

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The police briefing room was quiet, all but a few of Peels squad were out pounding the streets chasing leads and working the case, each of them desperate to find something of use, a breakthrough, anything to help save the girls from a horrific end. In the back of some of their minds was the thought of promotion.

Muck, on the other hand, did not care for further promotion, he had gone as far as he cared to and was comfortable with where he was on the ladder.

"Especially sat here in an empty and peaceful room." Muck scanned the room and his colleagues as they busied away quietly and he knew that the peacefulness would not last, it never did. At that very moment, the phone in DCI Peels temporary office rang. As predicted his peace ended and turmoil followed closely behind. Lifting the receiver to his ear Muck nodded his head.

"Yes," he inquired. "No I'm afraid he is out at present, can I be of service"

Muck listened and shaking his head, said "I'm sorry Doctor but I don't know when he'll be back. Please if it's regarding the DNA test we are waiting for please tell me, it's of the utmost importance"

Muck repeatedly nodded as he listened. "A-ha, a-ha, yes, oh, OH! His! How, I mean, are you sure, you tested it twice, I see. Please keep this to yourself, I'll have a word with DCI Peel soon as he returns and I'll bring him up to speed. Yes, yes thank you, Doctor"