He tapped at the Raider’s console. “Riverton? Request update. Barker case.”
Riverton appeared on the console screen. “Yes, Detective Beggs. I think I may have found a link for you to investigate.”
“Yeah?” Beggs said. “Proceed.”
“Firstly, the warrant for the apartment AI has been granted. I have gained access to and analyzed the security footage and other sensory information at the apartment and confirm it has been erased. I’ve found evidence of a hack but have as yet been unable to trace the source. Whoever hacked the system was very good at wiping their fingerprints. All data from the two hours leading up to Barker’s death has been wiped and is irretrievable, this includes building security footage and the immediate surrounding street area. I have, however, scanned our facial recognition systems for the wider area. Two blocks away and shortly before the estimated time of death for Devon, the facial recognition systems detected a man by the name of Vincent Calabri, walking with two other men in the direction of the apartment. Mr Calabri has a small rap sheet and is in the employ of one Francis Mellon. Francis Mellon, detectives, is the ex-boyfriend of Myki Natashi.”
Salvi and Beggs exchanged a look of surprise, as Riverton disappeared from the screen, replaced by socialite photographs of Myki and Francis together. “They dated for approximately three years.”
“What was Calabri wearing?” Salvi asked. “Was he in black?”
“No.” Riverton brought up a still image of the man walking along the street with his two associates. “He wore a white suit.”
“He could’ve changed,” Beggs said. “What’s Mellon’s line of work? His name sounds familiar.”
“He works in the financial industry and has no criminal record. However, he is a known acquaintance of John Dorant.”
“Dorant?” Beggs said, glancing at Salvi. “So he has ties to organized crime then?”
“Loosely, Detective Beggs,” Riverton said. “He has been linked to Dorant in terms of friendship. There is no evidence as yet of any business dealings.”
“On the books, sure, but what about under the table?” Beggs said. “Dorant is a big fish.”
“So Mellon has friends in high places,” Salvi said. “That could be why Myki’s claiming she doesn’t remember. She’s terrified.”
Beggs nodded. “Sounds like it. We need to have a talk with Calabri.”
Salvi nodded and looked back to the Raider’s console. “Riverton, what’s the status on Myki’s toxicology report?”
“The results are in, however, I’m afraid they’re currently locked by the Narcotics Division.”
“Locked?” Salvi said, darting a glance to Beggs. “This is our case. They can’t do that.”
Beggs sighed. “Ah, shit. We’ve stepped into Narc territory. If they’re working on an undercover investigation involving Mellon or Dorant, we’re going to struggle to get near it.”
Salvi looked back at Beggs. “This is a homicide, Beggs. We have every right to that information. Let’s head back to the hub and have a little chat with them, huh?”
3: MOVING PICTURES
Salvi and Beggs entered the hub a little under an hour later. Mitch and Caine weren’t around but Hernandez and Bronte were just heading out.
“Hey,” Hernandez said, pulling on his coat. “That body you had last night, the photographer, was it in the ‘Sation?”
“Yeah,” Beggs nodded. “Why?”
“We just got a call. A body’s been found behind a dumpster there. You tied yours to this new drug yet?” Hernandez asked.
“Not yet, but we’re about to have a talk with Narcotics about it.”
“Alright. Keep us posted,” he said, then walked out the door with Bronte.
Salvi and Beggs exchanged a curious look.
“Is it just me, or is the ‘Sation turning into a hot zone of late?” Beggs said. “How many callouts we had there these past few months?”
“This Fyte thing might just explain the spike in homicides,” Salvi said.
“Yeah,” Beggs said. “And that’s what I’m worried about. If they say it hasn’t hit big yet, then our case load is about to spiral out of control.”
“Let’s see if we can find out more from the Narcs, huh?”
They walked on to the Narcotics division and, as they entered the bullpen, saw a couple of detectives working at their portals and Detective Kara Shadid standing by the window. Her eyes held a silver sheen indicating she was on a call with someone. Dressed in her funky undercover streetwear, she looked a little tired and edgy, which Salvi didn’t think was part of her costume. Kara noticed them and quickly finished up her call.
“Hey, how you doing?” she said, approaching them, her long silver earrings catching the light against her warm skin tone. “Good to see you back on active.”
“Thanks,” Salvi said. “I’m just hitting day two. Listen, we got a case, but the toxicology report is locked by Narcotics. The doctor at the hospital wasn’t immediately sure what it was. Just wondering if this is the new nasty Narcotics warned us about?”
Kara shrugged at them. “Hey, if toxicology is locked, I can’t help you.”
“Why’d you bother warning homicide about the drug if you weren’t going to share any other information about it?” Beggs asked.
“Professional courtesy, I guess,” Kara replied.
“What’s so important about this drug, it’s gotta be locked?” Beggs asked.
“Can’t tell you. Is it critical to your case?”
“Well, we don’t know yet. That’s the point,” Beggs said.
“Talk up the line, man,” Kara said. “It ain’t up to me. You gotta problem, then get Ford to talk with Sorensen.”
Salvi sighed. “Well, can you tell us if you’re dealing with Francis Mellon?”
Kara jutted out her bottom lip and shook her head. “It’s not ringing a bell with me.” She turned to Lee Hinde, sitting close by; a stocky detective with a shaved head and three-day growth across his jaw. “Hey, Hinde? You know anything about Francis Mellon?”
“Mellon?” he said, scratching his head, before he shook it. “Not me. I’ve heard of him, though. He’s pretty connected.”
“Connected, how?” Salvi asked.
Hinde smiled. “He’s a rich businessman. He has a lot of contacts, like they all are. You got money, you can pay to play any game, you know what I’m saying?” He turned back to his console
