Last Train to Lime Street by Brian L. Porter

Author:Brian L. Porter [Porter, Brian L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gumshoe Books - A Next Chapter Imprint
Published: 2018-11-07T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Christmas is coming

Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Agostini looked out across the briefing room. His entire squad was present, with the exception of D.C. Derek McLennan, who was due back from his honeymoon the following day. Ross had spent an hour in the D.C.I.'s office prior to the morning briefing and Agostini had agreed to address the team, who were currently feeling disillusioned about their lack of progress with the Joey Slimani case.

“Listen up everyone,” he began. “D.I. Ross has kindly asked me to lead this morning's briefing. God knows why?” he smiled and was rewarded with a ripple of polite laughter. “Seriously, I know you've been working your backsides off on this bloody Slimani case, without much luck so far. I don't want anyone losing focus, though. The answer is out there. I'm trusting you lot to find it. You're supposed to be the best detective unit on the force, so now's the time to prove it. I have every confidence in D.I. Ross and every single one of you to find the killer of Joey Slimani, and here's an incentive for you. Christmas is drawing closer, folks, and the Super, (he was referring to Detective Chief Superintendent Sarah Hollingsworth) wants this case closed before the holiday. I don't want her suddenly cancelling leave time, because we have an open, unsolved murder on the books. You might not know this, but I'm getting more pressure from above than is good for my health, because our dearly departed adult movie producer was an American citizen and we are likely to be attracting some heat from unexpected quarters if we can't resolve the case quickly.”

There were groans around the room. Nobody wanted to be stuck in the squad room or following up potentially useless leads on Christmas Day or any time over the holiday period. Agostini took a seat beside Andy Ross, who now stood and spoke to the squad.

“Thanks, Boss. Okay people, we all know just how far we've gone with the case up to now.”

“Bloody nowhere,” Nick Dodds grumbled.

“Not even that far,” Tony Curtis added.

“Alright, Laurel and bloody Hardy,” Ross quipped, “This is serious. It's Joey Slimani's funeral tomorrow and I want a good presence there. Whoever killed him might just be among the mourners, making sure he's well planted in the ground. The thing is, because he was a Yank, there's not going to be a whole load of people there to see him off, I'm guessing. So apart from the widow and his ex-wives, and the world's weirdest, or luckiest butler, depending on how you look at it, there shouldn't be too many to keep tabs on. I want photos of the mourners, Paul, you're in charge of that,” he said to Ferris, who nodded, as Ross went on. “The important thing I want to do today is to talk with Slimani's local lawyer, a solicitor called Michael Powell at Hawkes and Temple on Duke Street. Sam, I want you with me. We'll leave as soon as we've finished here.

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