The Third Breath by Malcolm Hollingdrake

Author:Malcolm Hollingdrake [Hollingdrake, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: calibre
Published: 2018-08-28T00:00:00+00:00

Dan Grimshaw looked more than a little flustered when he paused, slightly out of breath, in front of Cyril.

“What do you think I’ve found regarding the phone records and the social media accounts for the two dead and the missing woman?”

Cyril stood patiently, waiting for a punchline. “I don’t know. What have you found?”

“They had not communicated with any of the others in the past. None had Facebook, Twitter or any other social media account, from what we can discover.”

“And, your point is?”

“Who doesn’t have some sort of social media account these days, even a lapsed one that you tried and gave up on? It’s like not having a television. Who doesn’t have a TV today?”

Cyril paused. Experience told him what Grimshaw’s reply would be after he informed him that he did not have a television. He mentally bet himself a tenner. “I don’t have a TV, Grimshaw… not had one for years.”

He saw the frown develop on his colleague’s forehead and waited as he watched the information sink in. “Really? I don’t watch much, don’t know why we have one, usually a load of the proverbial. The wife likes the soaps. Me? Can’t stand them.”

Cyril smiled inwardly. He’d won his bet. “Is that all you have to tell me?”

“No, sorry. Information on the two missing phones, they’re their personal ones. We know the make of each and we know the calls made over the period of ownership. They’re still receiving some calls but nothing outgoing. I’ve checked the numbers and Baines has received calls but they’re from business acquaintances who are, as yet, unaware of his death. Stephens’s personal account dried up pretty quickly as the news hit the press. That gives us an insight into their address books but from experience it will be impossible to get any further. There’s no co-operation by the manufacturers and we’re at a dead end.” He raised his eyebrows as if knowing that his words were somewhat inappropriate.

“From what you’ve said, the phones are still active, neither has been cancelled?”

“Yes, our procedure, particularly considering the circumstances.”

“Keep them active. Inform both families and also notify Baines’s business partner, Strong. Just say it’s to do with forensics.”

“Understood. I’m double-checking all numbers to see if any are duplicated. I’ve also tracked Claire Baldwin’s. She had only one. I’ve called the number a few times but it goes straight to answerphone.”

“Leave it now. Cross check Baines’s and Stephens’s numbers with her account too. With all the coincidences, I have a hunch that you might find a connection.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.