The Phantom Ritual (DCI Morgan Chester: Case One)

Chapter Thirty-Two

Morgan had felt like it was history repeating itself as they drove through Camden High Street. Merchants sat by their vans and enjoyed a hot coffee or tea as they found the motivation to set up their stalls for the busy day ahead. Blissfully unaware of the nightmare Morgan and Cole had faced in the past twenty-four hours. The seven-thirty morning sun started its daily climb over the roofs of buildings, not a cloud in sight. She could have easily mistaken it for a summer morning.

She could not muster the strength to cover her mouth with her hand and let out a long silent yawn. Cole chuckled and remarked about her spreading filthy germs over the car's dashboard as he pulled into her street. He parked the car outside her block of flats and switched the engine off.

"This time yesterday, I was on my way to find Olivia." She muttered to herself.

The image of Olivia's dead body in hospital burned inside her mind, and guilt consumed her. They had solved one case, but Olivia still laid on a slab in Simon's morgue, waiting for the paperwork to be finished to release her body to Stefan. Justice for her was yet to be served.

"Do you think there will be a funeral for her?" Cole wondered.

Morgan shrugged her shoulders. She hoped Stefan would pull through and organise a funeral for Olivia. It was the least she deserved after all she gave him. Did Olivia have friends outside of the brothel? Would Stefan be brave enough to call her family and deliver the bad news? Would they also even come to the funeral? She had to find out in case she needed to step in. It is too early to call him now the night shift is over.

"We will find the person responsible. Not just for Olivia, but for Emma Davies and Yolanda Aya too." He reassured her.

"Hallie would make a great mum, wouldn't she?" Morgan deflected.

Cole let out a puff of air in disappointment. When the topic of conversation was too much to handle, Morgan would instantly change the subject. He would usually argue and challenge her over it, but today he decided to let it slide. They both had a long and traumatic day.

"They are the perfect candidates," he paused and looked out the window. "Why did she not tell us she grew up in the system?"

"Everyone knows how fucked the system is and what happens to those kids. They slip through the net, and everyone turns a blind eye. She did not want sympathy."

"Wait, did you know about her upbringing?" he probed.

"Oliver and I had to look into your backgrounds before you joined the team. So yes, I knew since her application landed on my desk." She shrugged her shoulders.

Cole chuckled and rubbed his index finger over his upper lip.

"And yet we know almost nothing about your life, Chester."

"You know enough about me, Dawson. Let's keep it that way."

At the top of the street, Aaron stood and watched them talking. He noticed Morgan looked exhausted as she kept turning her head to yawn. She would be perfect for overpowering when they are alone. He hoped the male in the car would not join her inside the flat, he was not the target, and he looked like he could be challenging to deal with.

She got out of the car and waved to the driver before turning on her heel and entering the block of flats. The driver waited and watched until she was safely inside before driving off. Little did he know that she was far from safe.

Morgan locked the front door behind her once she was inside her flat. The kitchen lights, lamp in the front room, and television were still turned on. Two pieces of toast with chocolate spread sat on the kitchen island next to an empty unwashed coffee cup. She turned off the television and threw away the two stale pieces of toast before placing the plate with the cup in the sink. She reminded herself to wash them after she had some well-deserved rest.

The balls of her feet ached, her mind and body felt heavy. It felt as though she had been out dancing in a bar all night. She stretched out her spine as she lifted the hem of her top, pulled it swiftly over her head in one movement, and slipped her bottoms over her hips and down her legs before discarding both items onto the floor. She put on a loose fitted t-shirt that came mid-thigh and hopped into the unmade bed. The mattress moulded perfectly to her body, and the pillow felt light and fluffy. Her mind drifted as she let sleep consume her.

*

"Dawson." Cole clicked on the handsfree button embedded on his steering wheel.

"Where are you?" Hallie's voice filled his car. It was laced with worry.

"I just got to St. Paul's." He looked out his window to see the landmark on his left.

"Please tell me Morgan is with you." She fired.

"No, I dropped her off about fifteen minutes ago. Traffic is dire this morning. Bloody road works holding everyone up." He groaned.

"You need to turn around and go back to her, now." Cole sensed the urgency in her voice.

"Hal's, you are scaring me a little here. What is going on?"

"Cole, you need to listen to me. Morgan is in danger. The man she has been dating is the person behind the killings of Emma Davies and the two Camden sex workers. He killed his wife this morning."

"Okay, but how does this put Morgan in danger? Is it because she is investigating the case?"

Hallie scoffed down the phone. He heard shuffling, and Oliver's voice replaced Hallie's on the speaker.

"There was a note left beside the wife's body. It says Morgan is his next victim."

"Did the wife have the same method of killing as both Emma and Olivia?"

"Exactly the same, Dawson."

Cole cursed and looked at the cars in front of him. He quickly put the car in gear and sped out to execute a three-point turn.

"I am on my way to her now. If I get a ticket because of my driving, then I am putting it down as expenses." He clicked the end call button and sped down the road. He hoped he was not too late.