In the Woods

Sam joins the other two detectives at Cassie’s flat for an impromptu meal. They enjoy an easy camaraderie during its preparation. Afterward, they analyze the evidence they’ve collected so far.

Sam shares his experience trying find details about the proposed motorway. No one seems to know who owns the land. When asked about the threat posed by Move the Motorway, his uncle said the group is more of an annoyance than a threat. The town council isn’t worried about an injunction to stop construction.

While they’re talking, Cassie studies photos of the murder scene. Her colleagues consider her to be an expert profiler. When asked for her opinion of the killer, she says his heart wasn’t in it. The hesitant nature of the first blow with the rock means he hadn’t done this before. Instead of strangling Katy, he suffocated her from behind so he wouldn’t have to look her in the eye.

Cassie speculates that the rape itself wasn’t a sex crime. It was a token gesture performed with a wooden object, and it took place after Katy was already dead. She concludes, “No: he didn’t want to do it. He did it because he had to” (174).

Cassie then analyzes the way the body was displayed, saying, “I think he was trying to treat her with care, respect—keep her away from animals, make sure she was found soon” (175).