Snared by Ed James Page A

the spikes out, just acts like a cattle prod. Paul Joyce thought they were using a cattle prod.”
    “Unbelievable.” Forrester took a deep breath. “Who did this?”
    “We don’t know, sir. I’ve got Zoë checking just now.”
    “Just as well we got her in.” Forrester drummed on the desk. “Let’s get back to the real world. Did the CCTV at Dryburgh show anything, Mac?”
    “Nothing so far, sir. Likely be Monday before we get anywhere.”
    “And the street teams?”
    “Nothing so far on that, either.”
    “So, we’ve got nothing?”
    “Basically, yes.”
    “Bloody hell.” Forrester sat up again. “How’s the Fife case review going?”
    MacDonald scowled. “Not well. This DC Reed guy documented everything, and I mean everything . Considering it was a relatively minor crime at the time, they really went to town.”
    “Nothing wrong with that, Sergeant. At least we won’t have to open old wounds if we get a link.” Forrester scratched the back of his head. “So we reckon it’ll be Monday before we’ve got a decent picture of the case?”
    MacDonald nodded. “And that’s with most of our team working this weekend.”
    “Christ, as if my OT bill isn’t high enough already.”
    There was a knock on the door.
    Zoë stood there, clutching her laptop and tugging her hair round her ear. “I think I’ve got something useful.”
    Forrester motioned towards the third chair in front of his desk, between Vicky and MacDonald. “Have a seat. Zoë, is it?”
    “It is, sir.” She perched on the front of the chair, laptop resting on her knees. “I’ve found IP addresses of seven users of the forum the video was posted on.”
    Forrester leaned forward, arms folded. “So we can trace them?”
    “Yes, sir. No messing about — this is genuine. I’ve had them double-checked by Edinburgh and the Met.”
    “So, one of these people posted the video?”
    Zoë bit her lip. “No. These are users of the forum it was posted in. It’s a message chain called Animal Rites — as in last rites — on a forum called xbeast. These are people who’ve posted comments.”
    “Right, right. Do you know who posted the video?”
    Zoë shook her head. “No, sir. That’s still masked. Can’t get through it. Doubt I ever will.”
    “Go on, then. These seven people you’ve found?”
    “I’ve got three in the Dundee area and four in Fife.”
    “At least they’re local, I suppose. Mac, can you get the Fife boys on it?”
    “Will do, sir.”
    Forrester leaned forward. “Tell me about the Dundee three.”
    Zoë checked her laptop. “Two users have the same IP. I’ve traced it to a location on the Perth Road. The other is matched to a flat in the Hilltown.”
    Forrester got to his feet, hands in pockets. “Vicky, can you do the Hilltown? Mac, can you do the Perth Road once you’ve told our Fife cousins what’s what?”
    “Will do, sir.”
    Forrester patted Zoë on the shoulder as he passed. “Thanks for this. This is so good I’m going to report it to Raven in person right now.” He left them in the room.
    Zoë closed her laptop, fingers tight around the case. “Does he touch everyone like that?”
    Vicky laughed as she got up. “Believe me, it’s a good sign.”

Chapter Twenty-Six
    V icky waited in Considine’s car, looking down the Hilltown. They were parked by a patch of waste ground across from a bookie’s and two takeaways. “That it over there?”
    Considine checked his notebook then nodded. “That’s the address Zoë gave us.”
    “Sheltered housing?”
    “Aye.”
    A panda car pulled in a couple of spaces over from them.
    Vicky got out and walked over, crunching across the loose gravel.
    “Vicky Dodds.”
    Vicky nodded recognition at PC Woods. “Afternoon, Colin.”
    “Afternoon.” Woods thumbed in the car at his colleague. “This is PC Soutar.” Then he gave her the up and down. “Lost my wife, have you?”
    “Karen’s back at the station. I’ve got a new monkey to dance when I grind