Examining it closer got me thinking the angle wasn't right, so I checked the victim's hands and, 'bobs your uncle'. More bruising between the thumb and the index finger. All the blood vessels burst.”

“You think he stabbed himself?”

“I know it sounds strange, but yes. We'll know more when we get him back.”

Alex focused on the body, this case didn't get easier. Every new victim was a weight, a pressure on her mind, keeping her awake. The faces, their expressions of shock and horror taunted her, why could she not figure it out? This man was a new one for her collection.

“Where is the knife?” Alex said, its absence dawning on her.

“The one the victim used to stab himself with? The killer must have taken it. I won't be able to tell you more until I get back to the lab, but I've got a hunch the two sets of injuries were not caused by the same weapon. The shapes of the incisions are wrong,” Chris said.

She gazed back down at the body as Chris picked up a clipboard resting on the step next to the victim. It could have been the light, but when he moved it away, Alex swore the stone underneath appeared lighter than the surroundings.

“Chris, have you taken a sample of something from this step?”

“No?” he followed Alex's gaze. “How did you spot that? My guys already checked around the body. It is barely visible, but yeah you are right, definitely a lighter patch. You think someone got rid of something?”

Chris called across to one of his technicians, who came running back with a blue fluorescent light and a window cleaning bottle. Taking the Luminol, Chris squirted the paving, letting it settle for a moment before shining the UV light on the area.

“Is that writing?” Chris said.

“I think so. S-a-n… is that an 's'?” Alex said.

“No, it's a 'g'. S-a-n-g-u-i-n-e-m. Sanguinem?”

The letters glowed in blue against the pavement, the rough shapes drawn by fingertip.

“Blood written in... blood,” Alex said.

“This is majorly weird. I'll need to confirm the blood is a match, but we thinking this was written by the victim and removed by the killer?”

“A killer organised enough to bring cleaning products with him? So we aren't looking at a crazy?”

“I don't think the two go hand in hand. Not clever enough to bring something to properly get rid of the evidence.”

They were interrupted by a voice from behind, calm and measured.

“Good evening,” the man said.

“And who the hell are you?” Alex said, turning to face him.

“My name is Wade. What have you found there?” Wade said.

He was smiling, but not in any way as to be friendly. How did he get past the PCs at the entrance?

“Who has seen what you have just uncovered?” He paused. “Ah, just the two of you.” As he spoke, Alex felt something twinge in her head.