Lethal Outbreak by Malcolm Rose

Author:Malcolm Rose [Malcolm Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781781276709
Publisher: Ransom Publishing
Published: 2015-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

SCENE 23

Thursday 17th April, Early morning

As soon as Troy saw Lexi’s overnight results, even before breakfast, he arranged to meet her outside Precious Austin’s house. ‘To catch a worm,’ he said on the phone, ‘you’ve got to be an early bird. Bring your evidence bags and something to scrape paint.’

Waiting for his partner by the front garden, Troy watched bees investigating the wallflowers and primroses. When Lexi arrived, she asked, ‘What’s on your mind?’

‘Didn’t you see what Precious had at the bottom of her back garden?’

‘No.’

‘A motorbike – with plenty of chrome.’

Lexi smiled. ‘I’ve always fancied riding one. I like the way they take corners. I’d like to feel that sort of speed with one knee centimetres from the road surface.’

‘Just scrape the paintwork, not your knee.’

Precious Austin was not pleased to see the two detectives again, but she didn’t seem surprised. ‘Yes,’ she admitted, ‘I use a chrome-type spray paint. I like to keep the bike looking good. Why?’

Ignoring her question, Troy asked, ‘Have you still got the spray can?’

‘No. Do you want to go into my workshop to prove it?’

‘No. Lexi will just take a sample off the bike.’

‘What?’ She looked horrified.

‘A tiny scrape will do. No one’ll notice.’

Precious glanced at Lexi. ‘Do you have to?’

‘No. I could take a great big bit instead. A scratch that everyone’ll see.’

Precious scowled at her. ‘You know what I mean. Are you being deliberately provocative?’

Troy smiled to himself. His partner was being deliberately provocative. She wouldn’t admit it, though. But it was what Precious deserved.

Lexi said, ‘I’ll take as much as I need – which isn’t very much.’

While Lexi went for the sample and Precious eyed her carefully from the window, Troy asked, ‘When did you leave the Shallow End job?’

‘Three weeks ago. Friday the twenty-first of March.’

‘Are you going to tell me when the members of Two Races Apart are getting together?’

‘I’ve got no idea.’

‘But you’re a member. I’ve got a witness who says so.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘A reliable witness. There’s no doubt.’

‘In that case, yes, it’s tonight at eight thirty.’

‘The community centre in the second quarter? Not far from here?’

‘So I’ve been told,’ she replied.

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