Chapter 33
He stood, hands in pockets, the memory of a very pleasant evening playing across his lips as he nodded occasionally to passing acquaintances. The lift pinged and the doors hissed as they opened. Sammy stepped out.
“Morning, Boss. Just on my way to the canteen. D’yer want anything?”
“No thanks, Sammy.” He stepped in.
“Degsy’s waiting for you upstairs. We had another job come in last night.” The doors slid shut.
Sat in the DI’s office, he was updated on the previous night’s events. Degsy looked at him searchingly. “Personally, I’m not sure this was intended to create the result it did but, if I’m wrong, it could be the start of something. What do you think?”
Thurstan pondered for a moment. “If it’s a campaign against pricks like this little fella we’re definitely in the shit because we’ve got loads of them to spare, so I hope not, but I tend to agree with you, Derek. Either way, we need to catch them quick. It’ll make the copycats think twice. Who’s running the house to house?”
Degsy took a mouthful of mineral water and screwed the top back on. “There’s an old arse sergeant up there who’s done it before. Ex Matrix. It’s been up and running since first thing this morning. We should start seeing some results this afternoon if not before and I’ve got some of our troops there doing the houses immediately behind the scene. Area have provided a couple of Jacks as well as the FLO. Oh, and I’ve spoken to Slim again. He tells me they recovered some fibres, which he reckons are from industrial-type gloves, and DNA from the wire.”
Thurstan stood up. “Right. Let’s get up there then.”
A figure filled the office doorway then stepped in. The new Chief Superintendent, in his slick suit, smiled amiably. “I was told I’d find you here.”
“And so you did, Sir.” Thurstan raised a weak smile. He didn’t dislike the Chief Super but he didn’t like him either. He’d spent a lot of time in charge of community engagement projects working his way up to head of Community Relations until, for some unknown reason, he’d found himself in overall charge of MIT. Someone’s idea of a sense of humour the DCI supposed.
“Terrible thing, this young lad and the wire business. Shocking waste of such a young life. We need to catch those responsible quickly.”
“It’s very sad, Sir.” The DCI shook his head. “That a young life has been taken and in such a manner is horrifying but, can I be honest, Sir?”
The Chief Super smiled again and said, “Please do, it’s what we’re all about these days.”
Thurstan paused then decided. “I have to say, Sir, that my sadness is balanced by the fact that he was, by all accounts, a grade one little shit and a prick to boot who was terrorising not only his own street but most of the neighbourhood, if not all of it.
“As for who killed him?” he smiled affably. “Well... at this moment in time we’re as clueless as anyone else. House to house and our intel system have provided nothing of use yet, but, and I’ve only just thought of this, if we sent some teams out to do some breakdancing or dressed them up as PC Payphone or a cuddly toy, maybe the results would come flooding in. Anyway, let me know your thoughts, Sir, but right now, I have to dash. I’ve some urgent, important enquiries to make and a killer to catch.” He smiled again and left.
There was an embarrassed silence.
“Erm … I have to go with him, Sir,” Degsy said with a weak smile as he stood up and pointed to Thurstan who was rapidly disappearing into the corridor.