Joyce never enjoyed visiting mortuaries. She knew no one liked this part of the job. Everyone died; it was as it should be. However, her journey was official and meant someone had died under suspicious circumstances. Her job was to discover who, why and when.

She did not often know who and why and believed it was within the last twenty-four hours. A few minutes after she entered the mortuary carpark, a battered VW Beatle stopped in the next bay.

A slim, fair-haired woman wearing a black skirt, white blouse, and yellow bomber jacket exited the vehicle and approached. Joyce assumed it might be Millicent Brady and lowered the driver's window.

"Millicent Brady? Joyce Parsons."

She smiled, "Are you related to Rupert Parsons?"

"My other half. Why?"

"I understand he's exhuming a body."

"If he's correct in his assumptions, it'll be six."

"The office contacted me regarding your request. I told them, as I will be here, why not add it to the list."

Joyce alighted from her car.

"You haven't locked it," said Millicent.

"Never do. No need. A car is damaged if the thief cannot get in quickly. I have a secret code. The warning light flashes low battery if someone tries to start my car. It is unlikely the would-be car thief carries another battery with him, so he moves on laughing. I return and press my magic button, and the car starts. My friendly garage mechanic can work wonders."

So, he knows the code."

"Mine is the same as my car entertainment system. The only people who know it are my other half and me.

A local undertaker's van stopped at the entrance.

"I feel this might be Christabel Anderson if I'm correct."

A mortuary attendant assisted the driver in placing the battered oil drum on a trolley.

The attendant waited until Joyce and Millicent were close. "This is private property. Who are you?"

Joyce flashed her warrant card. "And my friend here is Millicent Brady, a Forensic scientist from head office. She'll be completing the autopsy with assistance from our local pathologist."

"Jacky Florence is inside waiting. "Follow me."

Joyce smiled. "Unfortunately, I know the way.

Joyce and Millicent changed into one-piece coveralls before entering the main room.

Jackie was waiting alongside the oil drum and shook hands with Millicent. "Would you like me to assist?"

"Two heads are better than one. What is the initial assumption."

Jackie began to take photographs. "The victim, from what I can see, is female, was placed in the drum and sealed inside. The drum was damaged by washing machines dropping on top. The SOC officer told me they had to remove half a dozen washing machines to remove the drum. She lifted a pair of heavy metal cutters and handed them to the male assistant. "Cut it free, but try and avoid the body."

Fifteen minutes later, the assistant lifted clear the top half of the drum.

Jackie took more photos of a woman whose eyes would never see.

Millicent scanned the body. "Naked female, severe bruising possibly from a beating and several stab wounds. We will now remove the body from the drum. In minutes, Christabel Anderson lay on the stainless steel table.

Millicent checked again. "Severe damage to the vaginal entrance. Raped numerous times. Whoever did this didn't care. I hope she was unconscious at the time."

Joyce checked her watch. "I recognise the corpse. Her name is Christabel Anderson. I'm not going to tell you how to do your job, but is it possible to check the DNA of whatever she has under her fingernails and the sperm inside her? I know who did this, but my hands are tied without proof."

Millicent nodded. "We will do our best. Whatever she was, no woman deserved to end her life like this."

"I'll get out of the way. You have a long night ahead of you."

Millicent gave a wave of her right hand.

Outside, Joyce breathed in the cool evening air. "How many times had she walked the path to the morgue? she asked herself. Despondent, she leaned against her car and peered at the darkening sky. "Christabel was many things. Why didn't Jack chuck her out? Why abuse and murder? The man wasn't normal unless she knew something."

***

By the time Joyce unlocked her front door, the sky was dark. All the way home, her mind searched for the reason Christabel was now dead.

Rupert greeted her with a hug and a kiss. "Right, my love, you go and have a hot bath, put some of your lavender in and relax. I'll have your dinner ready when you are."

She kissed him. "I don't deserve you."

He grinned. "I know, but I'm like the proverbial bad penny. I always turn up."

"Would you do something for me?"

"If I can."

"Hold me tight."

He pulled her close and held her, not saying a word.

After several minutes, she kissed his neck and eased away. "I needed that. You'd be surprised how much it helps."

He looked into her eyes. "I heard the news. Go and have a bath."