Esther McKay - Crime Scene

PENGUIN BOOKS

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First published by Penguin Group (Australia), 2005

Copyright Esther Mckay 2005

The moral right of the author has been asserted

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

ISBN: 978-1-74-228184-1

penguin.com.au

Esther Mckay served in the NSW Police Force for seventeen years, attaining the rank of Detective (technical) Senior Constable. She worked in Forensic Services for fifteen years, specialising in crime-scene examination and vehicle identification. She has a Diploma of Applied Science in Forensic Investigation (NSW Police) and was awarded the National Medal for service in 2001. Esther lives in Sydney with her husband and two children.

Further information about the author may be found at www.esthermckay.com

To Ken

Id like to thank my mother, Valerie Ross, for total commitment, feedback and brilliant editing skills. Id also like to thank her for her love and support throughout the writing of this book. Thank you to my husband Ken for listening, and for giving me the courage to face my demons. Thank you also to my wonderful family and close friends, whose encouragement and guidance helped make this book possible; and to my former colleagues - you have been an inspiration and it was an honour to work with you.

To Dr Selwyn Smith, you guided me forward when I was at my lowest. Your reassurance and care encouraged me to tell my story, and I thank you for being with me every step of the way.

Id like to express my gratitude to Jock Blair, who gave up his time to give me advice.

Thank you to the Australian Society of Authors, especially the mentorship program, for allowing me the privilege of working with Gabrielle Lord. Gabrielles amazing strength, wisdom and skill helped to polish the book.

My thanks to my publisher, Ali Watts, for her compassion and understanding, it was a pleasure working with you. Id like to thank Belinda Byrne, my editor, for her advice, gentle coaching and friendship throughout the editing process. To the wonderful team at Penguin books, I cant thank you enough. It has been a delight to work with you all.

My name is Esther Mckay, I read in a letter in October 2003. I am a former Detective Senior Constable of the NSW Police Force, retiring Medically Unfit, Hurt on Duty, in March of 2001. I have a Diploma of Applied Science in Forensic Investigation (NSW Police). I have been working on an untitled manuscript which follows my career as a young policewoman[and] my appointment to the Scientific Investigation Section as a Crime Scene Examiner

This was my introduction to the author that accompanied her application for a Mentorship with the Australian Society of Authors, a system which teams new writers up with professional writers. Despite the fact that I was far too busy working to a looming deadline with my publisher, I decided to have a tea break and sit down with the sample Esther had sent to support her application.

From the moment I started reading, I knew I was in the presence of a powerful, original voice with a story to tell. These three factors - power, originality and a story to tell - are for me, the necessary ingredients of gripping narrative. They are the hallmark of a genuine writer.

As I read Esthers eyewitness account of the fatal car crash in which two young brothers lost their lives, I started to forget everything except that slippery road, and the dying boy whose eyes seemed to look into mine through Esthers words. Esther Mckay writes not only from the perspective of a police officer - her professionalism is unquestionable - but also from her heart, that place of our common experience. How would I feel, I couldnt help thinking as I read, if I were the young woman knocking on that front door to tell the mother that her boys would not be coming home that day, not then, not ever. I looked up from my reading, my eyes filled with tears, seeing the scene unfold, that mothers scream resonating through me. Without further hesitation, I accepted the honour of being Esthers mentor.