“Would you like me to see if we have a safe house for you to stay at until we’ve captured the gang?”
Katrina gasped again. “You’d do that for me? Even though I’ve barely given you anything to go on?”
“Nonsense, you’ve given us a name. It’s up to you. I can ask the question, or you can take the risk and head home. Do the gang know where you live?”
“I doubt it. What am I saying? How do I know? Caves might have told them in passing. I know, that’s probably my mind working overtime. Please, yes, I’d like somewhere to stay for the next day or two, if that’s all right with you?”
“It is. It’s the least we can do. Hang tight for a few minutes. I’ll make a call and get back to you soon.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you need me any more?” Miss Warren gathered her notebook and slotted it into her satchel.
“I don’t think so. I’ll show you out. Do you need anything, Katrina? I might be half an hour to an hour.”
“A drink and a sandwich, if that’s possible. I missed out on breakfast this morning,” she replied sheepishly.
“No problem. DC Simpkins, can you deal with that for me?”
Her partner nodded.
Katy escorted the solicitor to the main entrance, shook her hand, and then ran up the stairs two at a time to the incident room. Breathlessly, she said, “I think we’ve got a lead. During the research, has anyone stumbled across the name Anderton?”
“No, why’s that, boss?” Graham asked.
“The girlfriend of one of the thugs who killed the four people on the boat, his name is Caves, she’s pretty sure that’s the name of the bloke who runs the gang. By the way, she also told me that Caves has gone missing. She hasn’t laid eyes on him since that incident occurred.”
“Okay, what do you need us to do?” Graham asked, acting as the spokesperson for the team.
“Keep digging. How are we doing with the list of Range Rovers? Search that for a possible Anderton. The girlfriend couldn’t tell me where this bloke is based. I’m taking a punt that it’s within the city limits, just because of where the crimes have been committed. Also, we need to check the import and export businesses operating in the London area. She’s under the impression he runs one of those and sneaks drugs into the country that way.”
“Wasn’t Thatcham an importer and exporter?” Karen chipped in.
“Too right. Try to obtain a list of contacts for the business. Ring his partner, see if he’s willing to oblige. If not, chase up that damn warrant. I’ve let that slip, we should’ve had that by now, shouldn’t we?”
“I’m on it. I should’ve chased it up myself, you’ve had enough on your plate,” Karen replied.
“Nonsense, I’d rather not go down the blame game route, let’s just get it sorted. I need to make a call. I’ve promised Katrina a place in a safe house after the information she’s divulged. Did I say her boyfriend has gone missing? I can’t ruddy remember. My sodding mind is racing faster than a Formula One car.”
“You did,” Steve said. “Want me to get you a coffee, boss?”
“Thanks, that’d be great. The caffeine might help steady the ship. I’ll be in my office.” She trotted through the doorway and took a deep breath. Her heart was trying to play catch-up with her mind. She flung herself into her chair and picked up the phone to call one of her contacts. “Ah, Des, it’s Katy Foster. How are you fixed for properties at the moment?”
“Hi, Katy. You’re in luck, I’ve just had a couple become vacant in the last two days. We’re in the process of getting them cleaned up now. What do you need?”
“Brilliant. I can breathe a little easier, then. I’ve got a young woman who could do with laying low for the next two to three days.”
“Alone?”
“Yes. A flat will do. Nothing special.”
“I’ve got something that fits the bill. I’ll chase up the cleaners. Can you give me twenty minutes?”
“Sure. I really appreciate it, Des. I owe you a pint next time I see you at the pub.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Katy ended the call as Steve entered the office.
“You look as though you could do with this. Want me to source a biscuit as well?”
“Are you sucking up to me for a reason?”
He chuckled. “Not at all. And there was me thinking you were a good judge of character, boss.”
“I am. What gives?”
“I swear, all innocent on my part. I’ll get back to it.”
“You do that. Thanks for the drink.”
Finally, Katy received the return call from Des around forty-five minutes later. He apologised for the delay and gave her the address of a flat in the East End. “Thanks, mate, I’m so grateful to you. I’ll get uniform to drop her over there now if one of your team can meet them at the address.”
“Absolutely. Glad I could be of service. Speak soon.”
She ended the call, left her office and ran back downstairs where she spoke to Mick on reception who offered to supply two officers, complete with Tasers, to escort Katrina Banks to the safe house, which was a relief and a severe weight off her mind. Katrina was equally relieved when Katy shared the news which had been anxiously awaited.
After placing Katrina in the back of a squad car, Katy and Charlie headed back to the incident room. The team had their heads down, clacking keyboards, the dominant sound in the room until Graham shouted, “Yes.”
“Something positive, I hope, Graham,” Katy called across the room.
“I hope you don’t mind, boss, I sort of went off on a tangent and decided to do some digging of my own.”
“Regarding? We’re all keen to hear.”
“I had a brainwave. Well, maybe that’s a touch over the top. Let’s just call it a suspicion, how about that?”
“Whatever it’s called, get on with it, Graham, my patience has been getting thinner
