'How did it go?' Blunt enquired of the three officers
'They have all declined to say anything' responded Saeed.
'Have you got the SOCOS to get off to Pitt Street and the other addresses?'
'Yes, Steve got that organised. What about the warrants?'
'Strumpshaw pulled some strings and everything is in order. What about the photos and prints, have you got those off to Interpol yet?
'Yes' Ahmed responded again 'Steve did that as soon as we got them'
'Good. We need something over the next twenty four hours'
The senior man turned to Melanie Leibnitz
'You know Steve but you do not know Ahmed here. He has joined us from the Met. He is shortly to be promoted to Inspector and is 2ic from now on.'
The young woman raised her right arm and gracefully flicked her long hair away from her face. That simple action once again wrenched images back from Blunt's memory. Bitter sweet memories. Sweet when he thought of the young woman and happy moments. Moments of laughter and hope. Bitter when he thought of a particular man: the bitterness of betrayal and the extinguishing of hope.
The three subordinates sat in silence wondering what the hell was going on as Blunt appeared to have slipped into a trance. They exchanged quizzical glances with one another as the silence uncomfortably continued. Eventually Ahmed coughed. It was sufficient to rescue Blunt from his reverie.
'Gentlemen, Melanie has been assigned to us on a temporary basis. Her primary task will be to collate all the information that we have. She will act as the main point of contact regarding all the outside bodies that we deal with. Her job will be to chase, chivvy and curse them to get what we need.'
He turned to the young woman,
'Melanie, you will be going to the station shortly to pick up the final member of our team, Debbie Flint. Can you book her a room at the THF Hotel on Hall Road? Better book it for a couple of weeks.'.
He turned again to the two men;
'Gentlemen, although in some ways there is not much more that we can do may I suggest that we hit the phones to chase up the people who may be able to provide us with information.
Our problem is that we really do not have very much on which to hold the three bunnies currently occupying our cells. We must stress to the lab and others that we need information and we need it fast. So Ahmed chase up the coastguard again. Steve get onto the lab. Melanie I want you and Flint to chase up what the SOCOS have come up'
'Ahmed, you better take some time to sort out your accommodation needs. Perhaps, now might be a good time