Clocks Locks and Danger by Lizzie Lewis

Author:Lizzie Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: police, detective, cozy mystery, coffee shop, investigation, private investigator, button up, abi button
Publisher: White Tree Publishing

Chapter 13

I turn to go back to the table, and it’s empty. Now where’s the man gone? Two minutes later I hear the flush going in the unisex toilet followed by the noise of the hand dryer. Then Detective Inspector Dickinson appears. I hope he didn’t overhear what I was saying to Abi when he must have gone past us just now.

The locksmith calls from the doorway to say he needs me. I tell DI Dickinson that his coffee is on the way, and I’ll be back. I think his name is Roger, but I’m not sure. I really need to find out, although if he really is keen on me, maybe it’s best to keep things on a formal footing.

The locksmith says he’s finished, and he hands me three sets of keys. I’m not going to let him go until I’m satisfied with his workmanship. I try out each of the locks in turn, several times from the outside, and then from the inside. He seems to have done the perfect job.

“These are the most secure locks I can get my hands on for this design of wooden door,” the locksmith says. “They are drill proof and bumper proof, but if someone is determined enough they’ll cut their way in with drills and grinders. But if you’re here at the time, you’ll have plenty of warning to phone the police and get out through the back window.” He shrugs. “And if they try in the middle of the day, when you’re out, some suspicious neighbour is going to phone the police anyway. Just remember, no the door is proof against a determined professional.”

That sounds fine to me, and one of the things we learnt on our course is that even the most secure vault in the world can be broken into given enough time. The main thing is to delay the intruder long enough to get help or escape. Ideally both.

The locksmith hasn’t finished yet with his cheerful advice. “Don’t forget, the latch you ordered locks itself automatically from both sides when the door closes. You’ll need your key to get out, or you could be burnt to death if the place is on fire. This double cylinder latch is really intended for separate areas connected by a single door that only authorised people with a key can come backwards and forwards through. Remember, as soon as the door closes, it locks itself.”

That all seems straightforward enough, but I feel an explanation is called for. “With the double cylinder latch bolt I can’t leave here without my keys and lock myself out. And I always want come down the stairs to welcome a client in at the door, and see them out the same way, so I’ll always have the key with me. So it’s just the metal bar on the inside of the door at the top of the staircase,” I say.

“As long as you know where your keys are if you have to get out in a hurry,” the locksmith says.

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.