while.
When he was finished, she wriggled
to get close to his body, working her mouth to clear the thick saltiness away.
She heard the rumble of his voice in
her ear: I could get you what you want.
She was very still. Come again?
Some grass, if thats what you
want. A couple of grams of coke maybe.
She sat up and said earnestly, Thats
really all I want, Van. I dont need much. How
Dont ask. And if you repeat any of
this, Ill deny it.
She moved away from him. Dont be
like that. Dont get angry with me.
He pulled her against him. Sorry.
Id never dob you in.
Sorry, Clara, honestly, forget I
said it.
I mean, wed both go down, Van.
Ruin both our lives.
Exactly.
When? she said. When can you get
the stuff?
Ill come around some time tonight.
What about your wife?
Her? He laughed. We separated
long ago.
She realised that she knew nothing
about him. Kids?
One. I dont see her any more.
* * * *
McQuarrie
turned up that afternoon. This letter, Hal. Any joy?
Were looking for a Canon printer,
but the technicians doubt that the actual printer can be identified.
McQuarrie swivelled in his chair. He
seemed to be mulling over the dimensions of the incident room and the aptitude
of Challis and his detectives. Wall map, half-a-dozen desks, files, telephones,
computers, and three officers, heads well down because the super was in the
room.
Two murders, with the likelihood of
a third to come.
More than two, sir, if hes hot a
local and done this kind of thing before. Theres a series up around Newcastle
were looking at.
Im tempted to bring in the
Homicide Squad, Hal.
There were times when Challis used
McQuarries first name. Usually during social occasions. This wasnt a social
occasion, but McQuarries voice had been tinged with doubt, as if he saw the
case ballooning out of controlChalliss, his, the forces in general. He was a
politician, essentially. He wanted reassurance, so Challis said, confidently, Thats
not strictly necessary at this stage, Mark.
McQuarrie looked around helplessly. Youve
got enough support?
No. I could do with more
detectives. See if you can get them assigned from two or three different
stations so that no-ones left short-staffed. Ive already requisitioned more desks,
phones and computers.
McQuarrie sighed. Fair enough. But
the minute
The minute it threatens to fall
apart, Ill let you know.
I mean, this isnt exactly a case
of a husband doing in his wife, Hal. This is different. This is big. I had the
London Daily Telegraph on the line last night.
Challis, to amuse himself, said, What
did you tell them?
Oh, it was well under control, and
nothing like the Belanglo Forest killings. I hope I said the right thing.
Sir, weve got some solid forensic
evidence with Jane Gideon. Tyre tracks in the mud, so we have some idea of the
kind of vehicle were looking for. Apart from the blow to the head, her death
resembles Kymbly Abbotts. I think we can rule out coincidence. Were putting
warnings over the media. With any luck, our mans supply will run out.
McQuarrie screwed his mouth up. Nice
way of putting it.
To him, sir, young women are a
source of supply, theyre not real.
Point taken.
Anything else?
Yes. McQuarrie got to his feet. He
tilted back his head. Listen up, everybody.
* * * *
Ellen
Destry threw down her pen. What did the fool want now? She had work to do.
Ledwich had taken up most of the morning, and she was still waiting for the
forensic technicians to identify the brand of tyre from the plaster casts theyd
taken. So far, all they could tell her was that it was an off-road tyre, only
slightly wornten, maybe fifteen thousand ksand distinctive because it had a
round shoulder and a very deep tread. No other distinguishing marks, such as
chips, burrs or uneven wear in the rubber. But find me the tyre, and Ill see
if I can match it, the technicians said. Yeah, sure, piece of cake, shed
told them. As for the cast matching the tyres on Lance Ledwichs Volvo,
When he was finished, she wriggled
to get close to his body, working her mouth to clear the thick saltiness away.
She heard the rumble of his voice in
her ear: I could get you what you want.
She was very still. Come again?
Some grass, if thats what you
want. A couple of grams of coke maybe.
She sat up and said earnestly, Thats
really all I want, Van. I dont need much. How
Dont ask. And if you repeat any of
this, Ill deny it.
She moved away from him. Dont be
like that. Dont get angry with me.
He pulled her against him. Sorry.
Id never dob you in.
Sorry, Clara, honestly, forget I
said it.
I mean, wed both go down, Van.
Ruin both our lives.
Exactly.
When? she said. When can you get
the stuff?
Ill come around some time tonight.
What about your wife?
Her? He laughed. We separated
long ago.
She realised that she knew nothing
about him. Kids?
One. I dont see her any more.
* * * *
McQuarrie
turned up that afternoon. This letter, Hal. Any joy?
Were looking for a Canon printer,
but the technicians doubt that the actual printer can be identified.
McQuarrie swivelled in his chair. He
seemed to be mulling over the dimensions of the incident room and the aptitude
of Challis and his detectives. Wall map, half-a-dozen desks, files, telephones,
computers, and three officers, heads well down because the super was in the
room.
Two murders, with the likelihood of
a third to come.
More than two, sir, if hes hot a
local and done this kind of thing before. Theres a series up around Newcastle
were looking at.
Im tempted to bring in the
Homicide Squad, Hal.
There were times when Challis used
McQuarries first name. Usually during social occasions. This wasnt a social
occasion, but McQuarries voice had been tinged with doubt, as if he saw the
case ballooning out of controlChalliss, his, the forces in general. He was a
politician, essentially. He wanted reassurance, so Challis said, confidently, Thats
not strictly necessary at this stage, Mark.
McQuarrie looked around helplessly. Youve
got enough support?
No. I could do with more
detectives. See if you can get them assigned from two or three different
stations so that no-ones left short-staffed. Ive already requisitioned more desks,
phones and computers.
McQuarrie sighed. Fair enough. But
the minute
The minute it threatens to fall
apart, Ill let you know.
I mean, this isnt exactly a case
of a husband doing in his wife, Hal. This is different. This is big. I had the
London Daily Telegraph on the line last night.
Challis, to amuse himself, said, What
did you tell them?
Oh, it was well under control, and
nothing like the Belanglo Forest killings. I hope I said the right thing.
Sir, weve got some solid forensic
evidence with Jane Gideon. Tyre tracks in the mud, so we have some idea of the
kind of vehicle were looking for. Apart from the blow to the head, her death
resembles Kymbly Abbotts. I think we can rule out coincidence. Were putting
warnings over the media. With any luck, our mans supply will run out.
McQuarrie screwed his mouth up. Nice
way of putting it.
To him, sir, young women are a
source of supply, theyre not real.
Point taken.
Anything else?
Yes. McQuarrie got to his feet. He
tilted back his head. Listen up, everybody.
* * * *
Ellen
Destry threw down her pen. What did the fool want now? She had work to do.
Ledwich had taken up most of the morning, and she was still waiting for the
forensic technicians to identify the brand of tyre from the plaster casts theyd
taken. So far, all they could tell her was that it was an off-road tyre, only
slightly wornten, maybe fifteen thousand ksand distinctive because it had a
round shoulder and a very deep tread. No other distinguishing marks, such as
chips, burrs or uneven wear in the rubber. But find me the tyre, and Ill see
if I can match it, the technicians said. Yeah, sure, piece of cake, shed
told them. As for the cast matching the tyres on Lance Ledwichs Volvo,
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