Chapter 3
THE CORRIDORS OF Forensic Science Ireland were beginning to get busy as Carla led Jack Maguire to the lab. Techs in white coats, manila files in their hands, passed one another, their heads down, their brows furrowed. The exhibits were checked in downstairs: queues of Gardaí from all over the country brought in bags of forensic evidence, which were carefully catalogued and then sent for analysis. There was never a lull; crime was a growth industry.
Carla pushed open the door of the FACE lab, a series of interconnected rooms and offices, all painted regulation cream, computer terminals blinking along the counter on the far wall. In the middle of the room, two broad benches ran parallel to each other, at right angles to the door. Stainless steel sinks were sunk into them at intervals.
‘Morning, guys. How’s the head, Raph?’ Carla grinned to a tall black man in a white lab coat, his top pocket packed with biros, who was examining a thick file. He turned, looked up at her over his glasses and winced. His close-cropped hair was beginning to grey at the temples, his face creased into laughter lines. Beside him, a woman in her twenties, her face pitted by acne, had one of the pages they had obviously been discussing in her hand. Her wavy straw-coloured hair was pulled up in a practical ponytail. Acknowledging Carla with a grin, she put her finger to her lips.
‘Don’t mention the war.’
Carla turned to Jack.
‘It was Raphael’s daughter’s birthday party last night. She’s an engineer with a star-filled future. This is Tina – soon to be Dr Antonia Marsh.’
The box under her arm, Carla ushered Jack into the lab.
‘This is DS Jack Maguire from Coyne’s Cross.’
Raph put his hand out, his mid-Atlantic accent strong.
‘Raphael Montgomery. Nice to meet you. I read about your find in the paper.’
Jack shook Raph’s hand.
‘He’s hoping we can help.’ Carla glanced at the paperwork on the counter top. ‘How are you getting on with the others?’
Tina put down the page she’d been looking at. ‘The 3-D renders are all done, they’re ready to get out to the media. I’ve notified the detectives in charge.’
Carla smiled appreciatively. ‘Let’s hope they land some sort of response. Your timing is good, DS Maguire, we can get started straight away.’
‘How long will it take?’ Jack came to stand beside her as she pu
