‘Doc,’ admitted Quasim.
Skeeter looked at Bob and then at the lawyer. ‘Mansoor Kamman, better known as Doc because allegedly he was a doctor, and that’s possibly true. We haven’t traced his educational history but we know what he does.’ She removed a strip of paper on which was written a name. ‘I take it you can read, Quasim?’
He nodded. She pushed the paper forward tight-lipped. There was an immediate negative response on seeing the name. He stiffened and looked to one side as if rejecting the idea. She did not pursue it, what she had witnessed was enough to confirm her suspicions.
Bob took over. ‘If we said the name, The Dawn Lady, what comes to mind?’
It took a further thirty minutes and they had a vague confirmation of what they believed to be the import of a significant quantity of drugs. All the pieces of the jigsaw were now facing the right way, picture side up. All that was needed was to slot each one into the correct place. There was something that Quasim had uttered that stuck in Skeeter’s mind: We were told that we’d always be one step ahead. Make no silly mistakes!
Chapter 27
April Decent stood in the Incident Room staring at the photographs taken of the items found at the Tolands’ flat. The laptops had been opened and started up but were password protected, as was the information on the memory stick. Once cleared by Forensics they would be handed to the IT team. The techy people, as she liked to call them. The photograph of the three words found in the box had also been added. Brad stood and considered the evidence.
‘Abid.’ He turned and smiled at April. ‘Sorry, now I recall. It may well all open up when we get inside those computers. The reason he was killed, his life, photographs. A veritable Aladdin’s cave, ma’am.’
‘Or a huge Pandora’s Box.’
Skeeter appeared at the door and thrust an arm into the air, a victory punch. ‘We have another of Snow White’s men. We have Doc and we also have a canary. I was going to say grass but in respect to the leading officer, DCI Lawn, I thought better of it. The DNA match at Gittings’ murder turned the tables. He was with her, attacked by three, one he believes he knows. Speaking to his brief she’s optimistic we might be able to negotiate. Bob Lawn is keen to move on this as soon as. Quasim has confirmed the name, Abid. Says that he was once with them. He has more to say on that matter, I feel sure. DCI Lawn’s gone to pay a visit to the couple he believes brought the shipment into the country, a Mr and Mrs Brinkman – Arthur and Lynn. Both pensioners. To think a few years ago people of their age played bowls and knitted hats and mittens. Now they serve as drug mules. Funny old world.’
April breathed deeply. For the first time since the start, she felt as though they were coming to terms with the case. What seemed like a rash of moped crime had morphed into a major murder and drugs investigation. What was reassuring was that she was surrounded by a quality team of investigating officers. She had made the right decision to transfer to this force.
Tony came over with Paula, they were chatting. Paula was very animated. She looked at the board and tapped it next to the name, Abid. ‘Kelly’s partner. Kelly showed Sharon a piece of his clothing she keeps, said his smell was still there, a type of comfort blanket she thought. There was also a series of letters or numbers marked on it, she couldn’t be sure. She told me Kelly said that it was Abid’s recipe if things got bad. They were the markings on their fingers.’
April frowned. Tony made notes as she spoke.
‘Kelly then showed Sharon. She did this, I’ll show you.’
She stretched her fingers out. Taking Skeeter’s hand, she straightened hers. She then asked her to do the same and she gently slid and they docked fingers until each was linked.
‘This might sound garbled but I’m telling it as I heard it. Kelly told Sharon the marks were significant as they spelled out a word or words about a person. She didn’t really know who, only that it was some kind of warning. I presume she meant Abid, as it’s him that she was obviously most concerned about. Sharon has agreed to call when she sees her. They’re ready to take Kelly into safekeeping.’
Tony looked at his colleagues and left.
Skeeter watched him leave before turning back to look at Brad. They both pulled a quizzical face.
Bob Lawn glanced at the white windmill that stood on Lytham St Annes’ seafront. The skeletal sails seemed to be frozen in a gentler time zone. Within minutes the cars turned away from the coast and were soon on an estate of fairly modern, similar-looking bungalows. Lawn’s car pulled up behind the lead vehicle containing two officers from the Lancashire Constabulary who were now liaising. There was another plain police car further up the road, a watchman. On seeing his colleagues arrive he left the car and came down to meet them.
‘DCI Lawn?’
Bob moved across. ‘Morning.’
‘Nobody in or out since six this morning.’ He stretched. ‘Could kill a brew. The house to the right, sir. Number Fourteen.’
Bob and two of his team talked with the uniformed officers and then again to the watchman. ‘Thank you. Come with me, it’ll take your mind
