Rotten Borough : explosive fast moving thriller by Adam Parish

Author:Adam Parish [Parish, Adam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31

Three or so days into this investigation, Jack hadn’t achieved much except being hit on the head, but nevertheless, he still felt that he too was due a few hours of rest. That hope was dashed within a minute of returning to the hotel, as the ever-industrious Max Harris had updates.

“Have a look at this, boss.”

Amanda did so, then made space for Jack.

An attractive girl. Very attractive. As Raymond Chandler once said, “A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained glass window.”

She was a bit young and a bit modern for Jack. The sort of image that people posted daily on Instagram, whatever that was. Big blue eyes and long flowing eyelashes. She pouted over designer spectacles, probably unnecessary, and then the inevitable stud in the nose. Everyone had that sort of thing these days. Jack wondered what it was for. Well, it was nothing to do with him.

“Your girlfriend, Max?” Jack asked.

“No, not mine, but how about the girlfriend of David Foster?”

“A bit young for Foster, isn’t she? And, to speak ill of the dead, a million miles out of his league.”

“There’s a lot of it about,” Amanda remarked.

Jack ignored this. “Where did you get this, Max?”

“Oh it was easy enough. I told you Foster once had a phone. The historic data is easily accessible, especially as it is so recent. It became inactive just a few weeks ago.”

“Have you found the phone?” Amanda asked.

“No.”

“Surely it can be located?”

“I can’t find it, sorry.”

“Does that mean it’s destroyed, or maybe on the sea-bed?”

“You mean he lost it when swimming to safety after the first attack?” Jack said.

“Could be. What about it, Max?”

“I’ll keep looking, but, destroyed or lost, it’s invisible to us.”

“Jack’s phone was invisible to us last night,” Amanda said.

“Yes, there are a few dead zones in the town.”

“What does it matter if we can access the data?” Jack asked.

“Oh, there may be contact numbers. Stuff that is just stored on the handset. Isn’t that right, Max?”

“There might be, but this phone was only active for a couple of weeks. First one he ever had. No outgoing calls. A few incoming, but untraceable, and this picture.”

Amanda looked at the photo again. “Can you tell where the picture was taken?”

“Oh yes, that’s easy. A cliff path walk a mile or so from here.” Harris tossed over a copy of an O/S map. “I’ve circled the area.”

“Circulate the photo of the girl to the locals.”

“Already done, boss.”

“Anything back?”

“Sorry, nothing.”

Amanda looked disappointed. “Have you got printed copies?”

Harris handed one to each of them.

“Maybe this will be the break we need. It’s a small town,” Jack said.

“It better be. Quite honestly, I don’t know how long Nick’s going to let me play fast and loose with his budget.”

“Mr Devoy was looking for you, ma’am,” Max said ruefully. “He called an hour or so ago.”

“Great.”

“He mentioned Edward Mercer.”

“How the fuck does he know about that?”

“He is the head of MI5, ma’am. Besides, he called Patrick when he couldn’t get you.

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