“We’ve also got the specialist tech team trawling through their phone records and social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see if they can find anything relevant. Collecting information on the girl’s online friendships and seeing if anyone stands out. Since the girls’ TV appearance on the reality show, they haven’t been living in Trentbridge. According to the mother, they have an apartment in London. Let’s find out who the letting agents are and get a key to the apartment. Get on to the Met Police and see if someone can make it happen. Explain the situation to them and make sure you emphasise we’re running short on time here.”
“The tech team will be trying to discover who has visited their profiles in the past thirty days and checking who has accessed their Instagram stories as the website does not allow you to discover people who only view your profile.
“Following the Cambridge Analytics scandal and the resulting privacy concerns, Facebook decided to allow users to check who has viewed their profile within the past thirty days. According to what I’ve been told by the tech team, this is a little-known feature that Facebook has buried deep in the privacy settings and is only available using the iOS app. The police internet team is aware all of the apps who purport to have this information are scams and produce random names. It will take the team several hours to go through all of the information.
“Okay, the final areas to cover. We need to discover the whereabouts of the vehicles. They have been entered into ANPR to try to locate them but so far no results. We know both the vehicles had fake number plates. So unless the vehicles are stored somewhere they must have swapped the number plates at some point.
“I understand we’ve already gone through all the CCTV footage from the airport. We need the identity of the chauffeur, the only person captured on camera. Everyone has secrets. Mrs Mitten has given the impression everything is rosy in their marriage. Maybe it is, but I can’t help wondering if she’s holding something back. The problem is we don’t know the true motive of the kidnappers. Do they have a grudge against the family or want revenge for some reason? Or is their tactic all about scaring the family into paying a large sum of money?”
Eden tilted his head, stretching his neck from side to side. “Okay. Thank you all for your time. Let’s go to work and find the girls and bring them home safely.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Kronid is the first to wake up. He puts on the kettle and makes himself a cup of coffee. Dragos is lying on the sofa snoring. Kronid decides it will be more peaceful to leave him. The less time he spends in his company the better.
Today is going to be a long and boring day. The thought of the £100,000 he’s expecting to receive makes it a little better.
Dragos looks at his fake Rolex watch. 5.56pm. He and Kronid have spent most of the day watching mindless daytime TV.
“If only we had access to some adult channels. We’ve been here for hours. I’m bored. How about we have some fun with the girlies? Find out what they will do for us?”
“If you mean what I think, forget it. The boss warned us not to touch them.”
“But he’s not here, is he? He’ll never know.”
“Look, I’m in this for the one hundred grand he’s promised me. I need that money. Don’t spoil it by getting frisky.”
“Aw, c’mon. The way they dress, they look like they dish it out all the time. I bet they’d be grateful for something to pass the time.”
“You’ll be able to buy a dozen women with your share and still have plenty left. What if he comes back? And besides, it’s not right.”
“You’re a complete wimp. Alright, I’ll leave them alone… for now. I’m starving. I’m going to get some food. I saw a chicken takeaway place a couple of streets away. You want some?”
“Yes. And a bottle of Diet Coke.”
“Diet Coke. Do me a favour. Trying to lose weight, are you?”
“No, I prefer it.”
“You’re mental, you are. Alright I’ll be back soon. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”
Two hours later, Dragos returns looking tipsy and holding a six-pack of beer, but no food.
“Where have you been? Where’s the food?”
“Sorry. Met someone. Went for a quick drink. I’ll go back for the food later. Open the door. I want to offer the girls a drink.”
“Are you an idiot? You’re going to spoil everything. You can’t come back in that state. We’re supposed to be looking after them.”
“I’ll look after them alright. I’ll show them a real good time. When I’ve finished they won’t want to leave.”
“Stop it. Stop it. You’re not going in there. You’re drunk.”
“Only had a pint. I’m not drunk. Not yet. Now I need a good woman and next door there are two. One each or if you don’t fancy them I can have a threesome.”
Kronid is getting angry. It isn’t a side of Kronid that his partner Dragos has witnessed before. He raises his voice.
“I told you. He said not to touch them or even talk to them. So back off. We only have to guard them for a couple of days. Now go and sleep it off somewhere.”
“Think you’re a hard man?”
“You really think two women are worth losing a hundred grand? That money is going to set me up with what I’ve got planned. I’m not losing it because of some tosser like you. Now piss off and come back when you are sensible. Just so we are clear. If you try
