‘Bugger …’ Charlie exclaimed.‘He’s got his bloody back to us.’
The other officers shared her frustration, craning towards thescreen, as if they could somehow peer round the muscular man’s imposing shoulders to take in his face.Davies and his associate already seemed deep in conversation, chatting together like two old friends, the latter removing his jacket.
‘Is this him, do we think?’DC Roberts asked urgently.‘Is this our trafficker?’
‘I think we’re about to find out,’ Charlie replied.
On screen, Davies’ companion shot a quick look towards the bar, before heading briskly in that direction, ordering himself a whisky.Frustratingly, his face was still turned away, his gaze down, and soon he was back at the table.Now he returned his attention to the docker, as he removed something from his jacket, passing it underneath the table.Davies received it, checked the contents, then slid the envelope into his jacket.
‘That’s it,’ DC Malik said triumphantly.‘That’s the payment.’
‘Agreed.So thisisour guy,’ Charlie concurred.
Now DC Roberts took up the baton.
‘So, what can we make out?He’s about six foot, maybe slightly more.Athletic, muscular, jeans, dark blue jacket and a t-shirt, I’m guessing it’s white from the glare.What’s that on his arm?Is it some kind of tattoo?’
‘Looks that way,’ Charlie added.‘But hard to make out what it is from here.’
On screen, their suspect now rose, pumping Davies’ hand once more.
‘They clearly like each other,’ DC Roberts said, raising an eyebrow.
‘Partners in crime,’ DC Malik mused, a wry smile on her face.
Charlie’s focus remained glued to the screen, however, slowing the footage down as the man hurried to the doorway.Her finger tensed on the mouse, then just as the man raised his head,preparing to push out of the main door, she clicked sharply, freezing the image.
‘There we are, that’s it.That’s as good as we’re going to get.’
She was breathless, excited, staring directly at the man’s face.It wasn’t a perfect image by any means, but they could see the narrow shape of his face, his mottled skin, the cut of his hairline, his dark black curls, the Nike logo on his t-shirt, the tattoos on his arms, one of which appeared to be a name, the other some kind of crest.This was it.This was what they been searching for.
The first sighting of the mysterious trafficker.
Chapter 70
‘Well, this is a sight I never expected to see.’
Recognizing the condescending tone, Helen looked up sharply to see Chief Superintendent Rebecca Holmes standing in the doorway of the holding cell.
‘Helen Grace locked up in her own nick.’
Helen’s former boss could barely conceal her amusement at her predicament, a smile tugging at her lips.
‘Yeah, it’s a surprise to me too, but the law’s an ass, right?’
Helen was staring meaningfully at Holmes when she said this, pleased to see her smile curdle at the jibe.The pair had fallen out spectacularly when Helen quit the Force six months ago, her very public criticism of Southampton Central’s leadership team going down very badly.She did not regret her actions for a minute, but it put her in a tricky spot now, Holmes clearly delighted at her misfortune.
‘As soon as I heard you’d been arrested,’ Holmes continued, recapturing her swagger, ‘I just had to come straight down.Are they looking after you, Helen?Do you have everything you need?’
Holmes already knew the answer, hence the question.Helen had been roundly ignored by the custody officers since she arrived, shoved into the tiniest cell without a word of explanation,a bottle of water, a blanket or any of the basic comforts usually afforded to the vilest of offenders.She was still persona non grata in this place, her former colleagues determined to show their continuing anger and disappointment at her disloyalty.
‘Well, I’ve had better service, but then again this place has really gone to the dogs, hasn’t it, Rebecca?’
Another reaction from Holmes, Helen enjoying the freedom her civilian status afforded her.Previously she would have had to call Holmes ‘Chief Super’ or ‘Ma’am’.Now she could call her what she liked – a very tempting prospect.
‘I understand you were picked up for trespassing,’ Holmes responded, changing the subject.‘Is that true?’
‘Well, obviously I’m not going to say anything that might incriminate me, especially as I haven’t been offered a lawyer, contrary to both law and precedent,’ Helen shot back.‘All I will say is that I was doing some research which I hope will soon bear fruit, to the embarrassment of both Regus Cleaning Limited and the authorities whoshouldhave been investigating them.’
