Ashton seemed to reinflate. ‘That’s not quite right. It’s true to say that we learned nothing from her directly. But like I mentioned before, we looked into her in greater detail afterwards. Using the same techniques your own DI Burton uses, we scoured the internet for her face. We got many hits. Several, you’ll be interested to hear, were associated with your man, Lewis Drake – his business interests, at least. But she was also on the books of at least one other agency, and most likely worked as an independent, too. We may not have her real name, but we did set up an operation to get closer to her. Earlier this year, in fact. One of our investigators booked a massage service using the contact details provided right there in her genuinely independent profile. Which means we have both her mobile number and the address she gave him. Which is right here in the city.’
Bishop pumped both fists. ‘Yes! That’s what I call progress.’
‘Is it in Woodston?’ Chandler asked. ‘Her address?’
‘No. Bretton. Why do you ask?’
‘Her agency address lists her as living in Woodston. But that address is most likely connected to Lewis Drake. This one is new to us. Intelligence we didn’t have before.’
A hubbub of excitement spread around the room. It was a sound Bliss enjoyed hearing, and seeing wide smiles on the faces of colleagues was immensely gratifying. He did, however, have a follow-up question. ‘This solicitor who represented our victim. Do you know who sent him?’
Ashton shook his head. ‘No. But he was from Fraser and Gooch. A Cambridge-based firm.’
Bliss felt his lips twist in disappointment. Unless Lewis Drake’s organisation had switched solicitors or added to their legal roster, the representation of their victim had nothing to do with the man or his operation.
‘No matter,’ Bishop said, rubbing his hands together and taking charge. ‘We’ll follow up on that. First thing we need to crack on with is our victim’s phone and address.’ He turned to DC Ansari, who sat alongside fellow detective constables Hunt and Gratton. ‘Gul. I want you to do the honours tracking down her mobile provider and pulling all the records we can lay our hands on.’
Ansari winced. ‘That ought to keep me tied up for the next week.’
‘I know it’s a pain in the arse. But at least the RIPA forms have templates to work off these days.’
‘I was thinking more about the provider. Some of them are great to work with. With others it’s like trudging through a combination of mud, treacle, wet cement and quicksand.’
‘Just get the ball rolling, Gul. I’ll bring in some uniforms and a couple of civilian workers if necessary. Once you’ve completed the requests you can hand it off to one of them.’
‘Yes, boss.’
Bishop turned to Bliss and Chandler, who as usual stood next to each other. ‘You want to take the girl’s home address?’
Bliss did, happy not to have to slog his way through Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act forms as Ansari was about to. But he also knew that Bishop had to be eager to prove himself. ‘By rights, this should be yours,’ he said.
‘Why don’t the pair of you go,’ Chandler offered. ‘I’m sure I can make myself busy here. I have John and Phil to help.’
Bishop readily agreed. ‘That sounds good. If you could run the office for me, Pen, so much the better. We’re still waiting on access to the crime scene photos and video files. Also, if you could call pathology and ask what time they expect to do the PM, I’d appreciate it. If it’s early and the boss and I are not back, you get the pleasure of assigning who attends.’
Chandler groaned and hung her head. Nobody ever wanted to be selected to attend a post mortem, and handing over the shitty end of the stick was an unpleasant task. Alongside her, both Hunt and Gratton did the same, knowing they were the most likely candidates.
‘What about me?’ Ashton asked. He stood by the screen, its glow illuminating his face. ‘How would you like the NCA and ERSOU to follow up?’
Bliss appreciated the investigator’s fresh approach. He’d had the stuffing knocked out of him over the past day or so, but he seemed to have learned from it and was looking to be treated as part of the team. Bliss felt a little bad about what he was now going to do, but it was for a good cause and so he didn’t miss a beat. ‘I think if Penny and our team take the solicitor and also follow up on the other escort agency as well, your time would be best spent working the Lewis Drake angle. Maybe his organisation didn’t spring her, but she’s on their books and so it’s a valid thread to pursue.’
‘You don’t think your local knowledge is better suited?’
‘I reckon it might have the opposite effect and actually hamper us, Glen. We may be too close. A fresh eye – at least to begin with – could be what this needs.’
Ashton frowned. ‘I haven’t got to go and visit that vile dragon we spoke to yesterday, have I?’
Bliss chuckled. ‘Who, Nicola Parkinson? No, I’ll spare you that. We may want to take a look at Igor at some point, but Pen and I know them, so we’ll handle them as and when.’
Without the need for further instruction, the team split and set about their new areas of the investigation. Bliss caught Bishop’s eye and said, ‘Can we have a word? In your office?’
‘In my… you mean your office?’
‘Not at the moment it isn’t.’
In silence, the two left the major incident room, walked along the corridor, pushed through the door leading into the Major Crimes Unit and went on into the office close to the near corner. The room was small and cluttered – pretty much as Bliss had left
