The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch

Author:Ben Aaronovitch [Aaronovitch, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2017-06-30T04:00:00+00:00

2Note for Reynolds: Diego Maradona was a short-arse Argentinian soccer player who, despite not being averse to a bit of handball, was awe-inspiring in his ability to race up the length of the pitch, bypassing opposing players as if they weren't there, and then slamming the ball into the back of the net.[back]

3Note for Reynolds: what you'd call a Social Security Number[back]

Chapter 5:

THE WATER BABY

When in doubt, do police work. You start with the facts you’ve got and work your way methodically out from there. Even if some of the facts come from an unorthodox source and your Day Book reads like an extract from a Bram Stoker novel.

There was a princess trapped in a dungeon…

“And you believe that represents a kidnapping?” said Nightingale.

Despite everything, we kept the Hangover Stone going until rush hour was well over because it’s not good police work to assume there was only one ghost per morning.

“There’s a sentence you don’t hear every day,” said Jaget.

“Speak for yourself,” I said.

After which we packed up and retired to a nearby pub for refs and regrouping.

“We can’t be sure it’s a kidnapping,” I said. “But if it is a kidnapping we can’t afford to delay for confirmation.”

Nightingale and Jaget nodded over their pints. Kidnappings were time-sensitive, so you couldn’t afford to mess about.

So, assuming it was one…what we needed to know was who the victim was and where they were being kept.

“Alice Bowman said that the Master was sending her and her friends down the line, which I think means the ‘dungeon’ has to be close to one of the stations further up.”

Jaget said in that case we could rule out Amersham because Alice had got off the direct Chesham train. “Can we check Abigail’s notes to see if all the sightings were on Chesham trains?” he asked.

“As soon as we get back to the Folly,” I said.

“Likewise we want to check with NCA’s misper unit,” said Jaget. “Start looking for missing women from further up the line.”

“What does a dungeon sound like to you?” I asked.

“A basement maybe?” said Jaget. “And the description of our Princess’s day sounds like someone commuting into work.”

“This could explain why the ghosts are so assiduously taking the morning train,” said Nightingale. “They may be following a trail worn smooth by the victim.”

“Ghosts do that?” asked Jaget.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m going to have to check the literature. I’m also interested in this fairy castle that Alice spoke of. I believe a rummage in the magical library is called for.”

I pointed out that Abigail would be waiting for us when we got back to the Folly, no doubt leading Molly astray even as we spoke.

“Abigail can join me in my search,” said Nightingale.

“Abigail?”

“Of course,” said Nightingale. “Not only will it be good practice for her Latin but it would be useful for her to gain some perspective on the craft.”

Nightingale has always been reluctant to let me loose on the library and I must have frowned or something because

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