Roll Call by Malcolm Rose

Author:Malcolm Rose [Rose, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Malcolm Rose
Published: 2013-03-12T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

A tragedy was looming for FI Luke Harding. The pomegranate season was virtually at an end and, unless Malc could find an alternative supply overseas, Luke’s breakfasts would have to change. Taking a mouthful of seeds from the fruit and spraying red juice across his room in the Central Hotel, Piccadilly, Luke said, “I’m going to hang around in London till Owen gets back to me – in case I need to go into action on anything he digs up.”

Malc replied, “Do you expect him to exhume a body?”

“No. I mean, anything he finds out.”

“Information collected by an untrained person is not admissible. I cannot enter it into case notes.”

“I didn’t get top marks in law for nothing. I know,” Luke replied, standing up. “But I’m not sure there’s a case yet. If it looks like there is, I’ll work on it. Then you’ll be able to log things properly.” He took a quick shower and then sat opposite the telescreen. “Now, I want a connection with Edinburgh School. Request an interview with Tina Stone.”

“You do not have to request it. As an FI, you can demand it.”

Luke smiled. “There isn’t a law against forensic investigators being polite, Malc. Request it.” He paused before adding, “Firmly, though. I don’t want my request turned down.”

When Tina Stone entered the telescreen room, she looked nervous.

“Hello,” Luke said brightly.

Sitting down, Tina muttered, “Is this a school exercise?”

“No,” Luke answered. “But don’t worry about it. I read your criminology essay.” He raised his arm over his head, his fist clenched around an imaginary icicle, and stabbed it downwards. “Very good. A bit far-fetched maybe, but really clever.”

The video image was so clear that the Year-7 student could have been sitting opposite him in his hotel room. She had very short blonde hair that clashed with the school’s green sweater. She lifted her gaze briefly and dared to look at him – or the likeness of him on the wall in the Edinburgh meeting room. “Thank you.” Then she stared down at her own lap again.

“What grade did you get for it?”

Her head still bowed, she smiled. “Starred A.”

“I should think so,” said Luke. “Where did you get the inspiration for it?”

Tina swallowed before answering. “Outside.”

“Outside?”

She nodded. “The cold weather, you know.”

Luke could see the silvery top of her head and some of her face. Even without a good view of her eyes, he was not convinced that she was telling the truth. “Did anyone else talk to you about it or did you see it written down?”

“No. I just thought it out for myself.”

“Are you sure you didn’t get the idea from somewhere else? It’s okay. I won’t tell Mr Garrett. You can keep your starred A.”

Tina shook her head and shuffled uneasily in the chair.

She wasn’t a suspect. Malc had already downloaded her attendance record for December 23rd and 24th when EW2 died in Woburn. Tina Stone was at the other end of the country at the time. “Do you know Emily Wonder in Year 10?”

“I’ve heard of her.

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