Shannon's Rebirth by Paul Bennett

Author:Paul Bennett [BENNETT, PAUL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

I dropped off Cherry and Anji and picked up Valentine for the debrief of our Baker Street Irregulars. I didn’t expect too much new information about our Pym’s suspects, but you have to follow up any potential lead. You need thoroughness in a job like ours. Can make for boredom, though, and there is a need to make sure you don’t lose concentration.

The dozen or so members of the gang had been marshalled by Arthur and they were all clutching the files we had given them and looking surprisingly professional.

‘OK, everyone,’ I said. ‘Who’s got anything interesting?’

Several hands shot up. I called one of them up closer to me.

‘What’s interesting?’ I said. ‘Who is interesting and why?’

Here he consulted his notes.

‘Richard Cawley,’ he said. ‘Lives in a flat in Romford. Nothing special. From its reg number, he drives an old car.’

‘What exactly is interesting in that?’ I asked.

‘He changed from his work car and into a different one. It’s—’ here he consulted his notes again — ‘a Lotus Elite convertible. Bright yellow. Looks shiny and as good as new. Wow! What a car. He took it for a spin to show it off. Back in twenty minutes. Settled down for the evening.’

I nodded at Valentine to check it out. He took out his phone and started searching. He was adept at his typing, and soon reported back ‘Not much change out of twenty grand for a second-hand one. Much more, if recent.’

‘As you say, interesting,’ I said. ‘Who is next?’

A girl came up to me. ‘Tony Lancaster,’ she said. ‘Like Cawley, he drives a vintage car. Open-top MGB. Stunner. These guys don’t know their luck. I’d kill for something like that.’

I frowned.

‘Perhaps not kill,’ she said. ‘I’d die for one, OK?’

And so it continued.

Des Hawkins lived in a detached house in Shoreditch. Expensive, but what you might expect from a director of an ad agency.

Ned Cork lived in a flat in Battersea and drove a red, white and blue Mini that was in the file.

Paul Adams, account director, lived in the suburbs west of London in a detached house that backed on to a golf course.

Harry Barker, head of planning, took the train to and from work. Lived in a small flat in Chingford.

Nobody else looked too extravagant or ostentatious with their money. Well, it was worth a shot.

I moved to Buzz and put one hand on his shoulder. ‘Time for a walk,’ I said.

We moved to the start of the ghetto and the hairdressers. ‘Over to you, Valentine,’ I said.

He took a key from his pocket and opened the door. Inside was a large room at the front with three basins along one wall and mirrors opposite them. The rest of the place was empty save from flyers on the doormat.

‘Welcome to your new home,’ I said to Buzz.

‘I don’t understand,’ he said.

‘I thought we could get a table-tennis table and pool in this room. Maybe a chill-out room at the back by the kitchen for coffee and tea and a place to gather off the streets.

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