Mortal Mission: A hard sci-fi mystery by Pip Skinner

Author:Pip Skinner [Skinner, Pip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Helena Taggart’s all-in-one rang for a full minute before she picked it up, breathless, her face red and sweaty.

‘Yes?’

‘It’s me, Chuck.’

‘What do you want? I’m in the middle of my yoga class.’

‘Should I call you back later?’

‘No. Tell me now.’

‘Do you remember the man took away Saul’s laptop?’

‘I guess so.’

‘Did he tell you his name?’

‘No, he only said he had come on behalf of NASA. Well, he might have. I just don’t recall.’

‘And what did he look like?’

‘Um, kind of skinny.’

‘Anything else.’

‘Not really. Oh, wait, yes. He had ice-blue eyes, like the underside of an iceberg, and teeth like a rat.’

Chuck swallowed. Harlan Grimes. Again. He’s the key.

‘Thanks, that’s useful.’

Helena rolled her eyes.

‘The police don’t think so. They say he doesn’t exist.’

‘And the forensics?’

‘Why don’t you ask them?’

Helena snorted and hung up. Chuck sighed. Another person he would never see again. Not that he cared. So, Harlan Grimes. Where are you? Chuck trawled through the internet using every method he knew. He tried not to be annoyed when Harlan Coben kept coming up but not a trace of Grimes. It should be easy to find someone with such an unusual name? But Harlan Grimes did not materialise. Chuck chewed his pencil. If Harlan Grimes was an assumed name, this could be a lot harder.

He wanted to ask Grace Fredericks to help him, but she had been adamant, and he needed to stay on good terms with her. Also, while the CNP remained in the role of suspect, he preferred to use her as a conduit for information in the future. He knew someone who could help. Whether she would remained to be seen. As usual, he had failed to keep his promises to her and she kept score.

‘Gina, it’s Chuck.’

‘Hey, long time no hear. I thought you were going to take me out to dinner?’

‘And I am. Soon. I’m busy right now.’

‘Busy, uh? How romantic. What do you want this time?’

‘Don’t be like that. I will take you out when I make a fortune on this story.’

‘And pigs might fly.’

Gina sighed. Chuck waited.

‘Well, go on then, tell me.’

‘Remember that time you took me to Saul Taggart’s house?’

‘To see his wife? How could I forget?’

‘Now don’t get snarky with me. She’s not my type.’

‘And I am?’

‘Sure you are,’ said Chuck, half meaning it. ‘I found out who stole Saul’s laptop and I think he’s the same guy who killed him.’

‘And you want me to…?’

‘This guy’s like a ghost. I’ve tried every trick in the book to trace him, but there is no-one of that name registered anywhere in Miami. Can you ask your friend on the murder squad if they got any forensics on the guy? Fingerprints or DNA; something that might identify him?’

‘But they fished Saul out of the harbour. The DNA will have washed off. Where are they going to get fingerprints?’

Chuck ran his fingers through his hair. Grace had told him that Harlan Grimes had been in her office, but that was weeks ago. Any prints would have obliterated by the cleaners.

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