by Gary Weston
'Is that the disc?' Andersen asked.
'Yes. We had four camera's attached to the building with recorders inside the main building. They're history. Fortunately, we had one on the corner of the adjoining two story car park that belonged to the Petroxel Haynes building. It was smashed to pieces by the flying debris, but we got the disc out of it.'
'Have you played it?' Morris asked.
'No. I came straight here with it. I have no idea if it picked anything up.'
Andersen loaded it into the player. 'Only one way to find out.'
Chapter 4
'Yeah,' said Crowe. 'Result.'
The recording was scratchy, but it was better than nothing. The four men sat and watched the screen.
'It's on a two hour loop,' said Ripply. 'This camera was almost an afterthought for the entrance of the car park.'
'By whom?' said Crowe.
'Come again?' said Ripply.
'Who asked for it to be installed, you or the owners of the building?'
'Hmm. Sort of a team effort. I think I sort of suggested it, like a by the way kind of thing, and the manager said, yeah, why not. Good thing we did, right?'
Morris nodded and asked, 'Was it intentional that it covered part of the main building?'
'Err, not really. As long as it covered the car park entrance, anything else was a bonus.'
Crowe asked, 'Mr Ripply. Doesn't your security company do monitored alarms?'
'Of course. But it was work in progress. These things take time to set up properly. Prior to my company coming on the scene, the people working on the building were responsible for security. Once they had nearly completed the job, we were called in and we agreed with the building owners to install our security systems in the time between the building completion and the company occupying the place. Because neither the car park or main building were in use, they decided it was okay not to be monitored, as long as we were up and running when they were in use.'
Morris sighed with frustration. 'I suppose nobody was going to steal cars from an empty car park, or break into an empty building. Food for thought for the future, Mr Ripply.'
'I'll not be caught out like that again, that's for sure.' Feeling a little hot under the collar, Ripply turned his attention to the screen again. 'Wow. Did you see that?'
'Play it again, Sam,' said Andersen.
'Here we go,' said Ripply. 'There, see? Somebody comes out of the shadows. He has a ski mask on. What's that he's doing?'
Morris said, 'He's using some kind of a grappling hook with a line with footholds in. How high up was the camera?'
'About four metres from the ground,' said Ripply. 'Fixed to the main steel lintel of the entrance. The box was bracketed just inside.'
Andersen said, 'That line and hook was exactly the right length to get him to the camera. It was made just for that one job. Now he's putting plastic explosives on the camera. It'll be detonated remotely. See? He's back on the ground. Got the hook and line down. See that in his hand? He intends to take out the camera with it. Any second...boom. Camera gone.'
'Wouldn't somebody have heard something?' Ripply asked.
'It was a small amount of explosives,' said Morris. 'More of a dull thud, than a bang. Just the perfect amount to blow out the camera.'
'Top professionals,' said Crowe.
'So the building blowing up was just an accident?' said Andersen. 'So what went wrong? How come the main building blew up?'
Morris said, 'We may never have the answer to that one.'
Andersen said, 'Thanks for bringing this in, Mr Ripply. That's all for now.'
Ripply stood up to go. 'Glad to help.' He went to the door, paused and said, 'This isn't down to me or my company. We still had a couple of days to have a monitored system. If you don't believe me, check with the owners.'
Andersen said, 'For what it's worth, don't beat yourself up over this. Nobody is looking in your direction. The gang who did this would have found a way around any security system. You may want to learn from this experience, though. We'll hang on to the disc. Good evening, Mr Ripply.'
Ripply took some comfort from Andersen's comments. He forced a tired smile, nodded and left the room. The detectives played the recording over and over, hoping to get something useful from it, but got nothing. They called it a night, to be fresh for the next day.
Chapter 5
'Poppy. Sorry I couldn't get here sooner.'
'Oh, Uncle Bernie,' said Poppy, hugging her silver haired uncle. I'm worried sick. Where is he? Where has he gone?'
'I've honestly no idea. He's missing from work, too. His input would be useful right now, but he's simply vanished. He's lucky I've got his back. Anyone else would be facing disciplinary action by now, taking time out without giving the necessary notice. Even I can't cover for him indefinitely. I'm sorry, but I have to ask this. Have you two had some kind of row?'
Poppy shook her head. 'No. Nothing. We were fine. But...'
'Out with it.'
'A day or so before he disappeared, he went sort of moody.'
'Oh? In an angry way?'
Poppy shook her head. Bernie could see from her reddened eyes how much crying his niece had been doing. He wrapped his arm about her and kissed her forehead. He was just about all the family she had, him and Sandra, his globe trotting sister.
'Everything seemed fine,' said Poppy. 'But he was strangely quiet. I asked him if there was anything wrong, and he said no. He...held me and kissed me. He said something. I thought it was a bit odd when he said it. He said, everything will be okay and that he would fix it.'
'Fix what?'
Poppy sighed. 'He didn't say. Was he working on anything before that building blew up?'
Bernie thought back. 'Nothing out of the ordinary. I'll talk to Morris about it in the morning. I have the code to get into Fred's office. We'll take a look and see if we can find anything.'
'Good idea.'
Bernie hugged her again. 'Come home with me. Let me and Debbie take care of you.'
'I need to be here for him when he turns up.'
'Okay. But if you change your mind, just come over. If there's nobody home, you have a key so just let yourself in. Take care.'
* * *
The Chief keyed in the code to the Ferret's office. Morris and Crowe followed him inside. It was an eerie feeling to be in there with no Fred Ducket and everything turned off and looking like some dead spacecraft from an alien planet.
The Chief stroked the top of “Old Cranky”. 'Think we should turn it on? Perhaps there's a clue in there.'
Morris said, 'This is the Ferret we're talking about. I doubt anybody could get through his security.'
'Did he ever write anything down?' the Chief asked.
Crowe said, 'With an actual pen on actual paper? Not a whole lot.'
Bernie looked at the detectives. Men he knew well and trusted completely. He knew they wouldn't be holding anything back from him. Almost.
'I'm just going to ask this once. That witch case a few months back.' He noticed the involuntary shudder Morris gave. It was obviously still a raw experience. 'To this day, I don't know what happened in the end. Neither does Andersen.' He saw the guilty look that passed between Morris and Crowe. 'Is there any possibility the Ferret going missing has anything to do with that witch case?' Crowe studied his shoes and Morris stared at the ceiling and the Chief bristled.'Stanley? Vincent?'
'I hadn't thought about it until you just mentioned it,' said Morris. 'I can't see a connection.'
The Chief said, 'You can't see a connection or you don't want to see one?'
'That, is a very good question. Both. I don't see the one having anything to do with the other, and I really wouldn't want to have to go down that path again.'
The Chief wasn't entirely happy with that answer. 'Stanley. I know Poppy was involved in that somehow. I'll tell you something you don't know. D I Andersen and I actually considered disciplinary action against you two for withholding information pertinent to the c
ase.'
Morris shared a shocked look with Crowe. They didn't know that. Morris reacted first. 'I would have resigned if you had done that,' he said.
'Me, too,' said Crowe.
The Chief said, 'We figured that. You are two of the best detectives we have. It was a messy ending and Andersen and I both know you two held something back. I asked Fred what had happened, just as my niece's husband. I got stonewalled just like with you two. I just want you to give thought to the possibility of it being linked somehow with that case.'
'We will,' said Morris.
'Right. Moving on. What's happening with the Petroxel case?'
'We just need to take a formal statement from Ralph Thorman,' said Morris. 'Not much else we can do until the bodies are removed, when we can try to identify them.'
'Okay. I'll let you get on. Lock this place up on your way out.'
With the Chief gone, Crowe said, 'Can you believe that? Disciplinary action against us?'
'The Old Man's right,' Morris conceded. 'We did hold info back.'
'With bloody good reason.'
'Come on. Let's go see Thorman.'
Chapter 6
Ralph Thorman told his secretary to hold all calls and bring in refreshments for him and the detectives.
'Damned unbelievable. Millions that place cost us. Now just rubble.'
Morris sipped his coffee then asked, 'Your insurance company covering it?'
'Playing their face. Saying we aren't covered by acts of terrorism. I told them it was just a bunch of criminals trying to extort money from us. Not terrorists. They say that it is still considered an act of terrorism. They said that if they paid out on one situation like this, all buildings underwritten by them would become easy targets.'
'That's my understanding of it, too,' said Andersen. 'I doubt if you'll get anywhere. It'll be pretty clear cut in your insurance policy.'
'That won't stop me trying,' said Thorman. 'We have top legal people working for our company. We'll set them loose on the buggers. No doubt it will drag on for years. Any closer to finding out who did it?'
Morris shook his head. 'We won't know anything until we get the bodies out. Once we've identified the remains, we can put the case to bed. There may be a mastermind who wasn't on the actual job. We'll do our best to establish that and track him down.'
Thorman asked, 'Any idea when that will be? The information may be a factor in any insurance claim.'
Crowe said, 'Because there are bodies in there, even though dead ones, it isn't just a case of taking the rubble away. It will be a piece by piece removal until the bodies have been recovered.'
Thorman sighed. 'I thought that would be the case.'
Morris asked, 'Mr Thorman. Do you know of any similar threats against your company, either here or in any other country?'
'Unfortunately, most companies get cranks targeting them with extortion demands now and then. Just part of life. Petroxel has had its fair share, but nothing on this scale before.'
Morris had expected that. 'It doesn't sound like it's anything personal against the company. It's just money, not terrorists or people with a grudge. Okay. We'll be off. Thanks for your time. As soon as we get anywhere, we'll let you know.'
'Can't come soon enough. Thanks.'
Back at headquarters, Detective Inspector Andersen was waiting for them. They told him what had been said at the meeting with Thorman.
Andersen said, 'We can move on from that case for the time being. Not much we can do until at least one body turns up. What I want to do now is find out what the hell has happened to Ducket. We all know this isn't like him at all to go off without some kind of reason. It's the first time I've ever had to ask detectives to find a detective. But this is from the Chief. This is priority. Find the Ferret.'
Chapter 7
Morris and Crowe let themselves into Ducket's office, using the code given by the Chief. The lifeless equipment gave the huge room the feel of a modern day museum. It was the prototype for the technological future of the country's detective force. The very best available systems were put in place and further enhanced by Ducket.
'Any idea what the hell this thing is?' Crowe asked.
'I wouldn't have a clue. Stop messing with it.'
'It looks like dinosaurs like us have an expiry date.'
'Speak for yourself,' Morris said. 'I think we should work it like just a missing person case and not like a mate gone missing. I'd still like to try to see if we can get into his computer.'
Crowe said, 'I doubt if Bill Gates could get in there. Ferret was training likely prospects to head up similar departments in other headquarters. I suggest we drag one of those in.'
Morris agreed. 'The Chief will know who they are. We can pull in a couple of them. I'll organise that, you check the drawers and filing cabinet.'
The Chief considered Morris's suggestion.'He won't like it.'
'I'm open to alternative ideas,' said Morris. 'We need something to work with and it seems logical that Ducket might have something on his computer to put us on the right track.'
'But you need an expert to help out.'
'On the Ferret's computer, yes. He hand selected the ones to train up. People who have had some detective experience, but had strong computer skills.'
'One moment.' The Chief pressed the old fashioned intercom button on his desk. 'Monica. Do you have that list D C Ducket made up of people he was training? Good. See if you can get a couple of them over here as soon as possible. No. It doesn't matter which ones, just as long as they can come over right away. Thanks, Monica.'
'Thanks, Chief,' said Morris.
'I'm holding you responsible for this. Keep an eye on them.'
'Understood, Chief.'
Two hours later, Jordon Fletcher and Trish Bailey were drooling over the hi-tech equipment. They were two of the Ferret's fan club.
'I'm surprised they aren't wearing “We love the Ferret” T shirts,' whispered Crowe. 'And they are detectives? How old are they? Twelve?'
Morris said, 'Young enough to understand their way around this stuff. And yes. Both are detective constables, both fast tracked. Be nice to them. A few years from now, we'll be calling them sir.'
The youngsters were oblivious to the senior officers in the room. They had fired up the computer and were in deep discussion using words that may well have come from another language as far as Crowe and Morris were concerned.
'Think you can get in there?' Morris asked.
'This is pretty wicked shit,' said Trish Bailey.
She was petite and slightly mousey looking. It was hard for the worldly detective to imagine her being part of fighting crime in the real world, physically dealing with the lowlife. But he was a dinosaur, like Crowe had said. Slamming crims against a cell wall when the duty sergeant was on a tea break. Dodging bullets, playing good cop bad cop. Surely there was a happy compromise?
It was what made Ferret special, unique. His forte may be in cyberspace, but he had a talent for cutting through the crap of a case and using logical deduction, see answers that were obvious to him but like a revelation to others when he came out with them. The equipment, the computers and all the bells and whistles could be replicated. Gifted young people could get the most out of it. But to be Ferret's? Not in a million years. They needed Ducket back.
Fletcher said, 'He has put codes, security, passwords, unique firewalls and other things in here we never even saw before. Ferret is a genius.'
Crowe snapped, 'I thought you two were bloody genius's, too. Can you get in there or not?'
Jordon Fletcher scratched his blue permed hair and said, 'We can do this.'
Crowe wanted to slap him. Instead he growled, 'Then bloody get on with it.'
Morris dragged the big guy away so the youngsters could work. 'Pull your head in. Did you find any paperwork that might help us?'
'Ducket had an aversion to the handwritten word. Like an allergy, or something. You know what I'm thinking? If he'd wanted us to find him, he'd have le
ft a clue. One even we could understand. It wouldn't be in an obscure teaser. It would be lit up in neon lights.'
Morris considered that. 'Are you saying he doesn't want us after him? He would have known we would be trying to find him.'
Crowe said, 'The lack of a clue is a clue in itself. It's Ferret's way of saying back off and give him some space.'
'So we don't look for him?'
Crowe shrugged. 'Stan. We have been told by the Old Man himself to find Ferret. They nearly had us disciplined before. If these kids find anything, so be it.'
Chapter 8
'Uncle Bernie. It's been four whole days. Where the hell is he?'
'Hey. Calm down. I have Morris and Crowe onto it as a priority. Now, I'm not taking no for an answer. You are coming to stay with me and Debbie for the time being. Grab a few things.'
Poppy shook her head. 'I can't, Uncle Bernie. I have to be here in case he comes home.'
'He'll find you, wherever you are. Come on, start packing.'
Poppy knew her uncle wouldn't be leaving her alone this time. She packed a case, grabbed her laptop and phone and followed him to his car.
Debbie Sefton, Bernie's partner, had moved in with him. She was waiting with open arms for Poppy.
'Come on. Oh, you poor girl. You must be frantic. I'll get the kettle on.'
'Thanks, Debbie. I'll put my things in my old room.'
They settled down for the evening meal and Poppy tried to do more than push the food around on her plate.
Bernie said, 'You have to keep your strength up, Poppy. You need to eat.'
To oblige her well meaning uncle, Poppy ate a few more mouthfuls. 'I'm full. That was great, Debbie. Thanks.'
