Down Among the Dead by C S Green

Author:C S Green [Green, C S]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2023-12-14T17:00:00+00:00

20

Outside, Adam lets out a low whistle. ‘Wow,’ he says. ‘What the hell happened in there?’

‘I think we just frightened the shit out of that guy,’ says Rose.

They get back into the car.

‘I know,’ says Adam. ‘He was seriously spooked. When he saw the twig doll, I thought the big man was actually going to cry. And he clearly knew Suzette Armstrong too.’

‘Tell you what,’ says Rose, starting the engine and pulling away from the side of the road. ‘I think we should keep an eye on him, don’t you?’

‘Yep,’ Adam is already tapping at his screen. ‘On it.’

Rose calls Rowland once they get back to UCIT and gives her a long and full update on where they are.

‘Thanks,’ says the other woman after a brief silence. ‘I’m going to push for fast authorisation on the phone observation for Ryan Brodie and let me know if there is anything else you need. I think this man might be in serious danger, even though I don’t understand how any of this fits together.’

‘Neither do we yet,’ says Rose. ‘But we’re working on it.’

The rest of the afternoon is spent pounding the phones but they don’t get much further forward.

Neither Rufus Armstrong, nor Suzette’s close contacts, have any insights into who may have maliciously planted the software on her laptop. Rufus had been quiet for a few moments after Rose described what they had found, and she realised he was crying. She waited it out until he was able to speak again.

‘All those times,’ he finally said, in a thick voice. ‘I moaned at her for buying shit online, it’s possible that was someone else?’

‘It is possible, yes,’ Rose says.

‘I accused her of being a drunk once,’ he said, very quietly now. ‘That she couldn’t remember buying twelve bottles of champagne we didn’t need, or a dress she didn’t even like. I didn’t believe her.’

‘Can you think of anyone at all, even in your wider circle,’ says Rose, ‘who has the kind of job or background that would make this kind of technical thuggery possible? Any tech experts at all?’

But the answer was no. They mainly, it seems, knew people working as journalists, PR professionals or lawyers. No one with a techie background. And it isn’t, according to what they have seen in the report, the kind of thing someone can do from consulting YouTube.

The team have also been ploughing through the general registry docket for the Weston murder. This is the file containing all the interview notes on the case and other paperwork. Nothing seems to chime with this case though, other than the location of the death.

The tiring work isn’t helped by Rose’s hangover, which is of the variety that comes with a second wave in the afternoon.

Sneaking a glance around the office to check no one is looking, she briefly lowers her head into her hands and gives a barely perceptible groan. Staying like this for a few moments, it’s all she can do not to drop off.

‘Psst!’ Scarlett is by her desk.

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