Chapter 8

It was not far to the office from the cafe. Fifteen minutes quick pace to around the back of Mint Street Park. A small sublet with Dobson-Hanson Private Investigators on a tab next to the third bell push down on a stack of eight right hand side of the black paint peeling door. He stood on the top step, turned his key, pushed open the door and went up the tight staircase to the first floor office with his shoes drumming a tune on the bare wooden treads. The office door with a number three in the middle unlocked with a Yale. Drab was the kindest description. Two desks and two piles of jumbled paper. A filing cabinet and three chairs. If they had two guests Eddie stood. If they had three guests they both stood. They had never had four guests so they only needed three chairs. Most of their work was done out of office which was just as well; the place stank. Mike threw open the large sash window and fanned in the air. He was still wondering how high rising damp was able to climb. It was bright in there. That was the only thing the place had going for it. A lot of glass. And of course it was really cheap.

Taking off his black jacket and hanging it over the back of the chair he sat down and rested his head in his hands. It had been a long day so far and he was feeling jaded. They had been up very early getting set for the final meeting with their contact. He lifted his head and rubbed his strong looking face and dark eyes to sharpen him up then pushing the jumbled mess on his desk to one side he pulled out the main desk drawer and removed the contents. Nothing much, just details of on-going work. From the left hand side drawer he picked out a penknife. Using the main blade he prised up the wooden false base of the main drawer. Then removed nine brown envelopes and replaced the false bottom and the drawer contents. Opening the envelopes he sifted through the contents and arranged the thirty or so pages into the correct order. Then put them into a new buff coloured file folder. The cheap type with a pouch. He fired up his computer, one of the only expensive things in the place and plugged in the camera. Downloading the pictures to join those already on the hard drive picture file he checked them all. All forty. And they were good. One thing he would say for Eddie is that he snaps a good photo. Not too much work was needed. A bit of cropping here and there. Pull in the image on a couple of the front on ones. Sharpen them up. Then copy the entire file onto a stick which went into the orange file pouch with the papers.

The next two hours he spent writing a report with all the details and consequences.  Printing it off he stapled the pages together and added them to the pile in the folder. Finishing quicker than expected he closed the folder and placed it on the edge of the desk. If they discovered the destination of the blond lady the folder would go with them. Sitting back he pushed his hands through his short blond hair then clasped them behind his head pushed his chair back a bit with his feet then lifted them onto the desk. There was nothing else he could do. To get paid, to get their money back and to secure that bonus they needed that last envelope. When they got that the file was ready for a quick hand over. But for all that to happen they needed the lady and for that they needed to find out where she got off that train. He closed his eyes hoping to catch a few before Eddie returned.

Eddie Hanson passed a twenty note to the driver and stepped out of the cab. He walked across the pavement and down the steps to the flat in the basement of the large brick built property around the back of Clapham common. Then rang the doorbell.

As always the first thing Eddie saw when the door opened was the hair and as always he was impressed. That wild mass of Afro-cut hair making the perfect foil for one of the most beautiful ladies he knew. The sheen on her flawlessly smooth ebony skin. The pale blue eye shadow exaggerating the shine in those clear dark eyes. He was in love. There was no doubt about it. A thirty something lady had got herself trapped inside his head.

“Hey Eddie,” she said with just the widest smile, “you come right on in.”

Following her into the basement room, the room with the window below ground in a kind of rectangular light well with cast iron grid on top he hung back a bit to admire her slim figure and sexy wiggle. Enough light came in to bounce off the white painted walls to make a sort of subdued mysterious space. Perfect for viewing the banks of flickering screens positioned behind a long metal desk with keypads and a whole heap of wires spiralling to disappear through round holes to connect to the computer power that lay beneath. 

“I knows you’re watching me and I ain’t wiggling it for your benefit. It’s the way I walk is all. You know that by now though, don’t you?”

“Sure I do Carter but I still get all mesmerised.”

“Well you know it ain’t no good. You know I’m shacked up and happy with my lovelife. Her and me we make a good couple but like I say you know that by now, don’t you?”

“I know but no harm in trying, is there? I’m in love with you but you know that already, don’t you?”

“Ha ha, I sure do honey and appreciate the compliment which is why there’s no harm. You just look all you want but it won’t do you no good. You want some tea? A beer? You said this was urgent.”

“Can you get into the cameras at Waterloo Station? The ones facing the taxi rank.”

“Sure but it may take a while. Make some tea and watch the show. You might learn something.” And Carter was already firing up the screens and punching the keys and scrolling through the pages. Eddie disappeared through the door to the kitchen. Minimalistic all chrome and white wood. Green tea in an open box on the metal countertop and boiling water in the never ending tap. A hi-tech kitchen in a hi-tech space with a hi-tech girl in charge. No milk and two mugs and back to sit on the matching leather and brushed steel desk chair next to Carter. And he watched the rapidly moving fingers and screen changes in response casting an eerie dancing light that travelled around the room. 

A while later Eddie said, “You know you’re the smartest person I know. How’d you get to be so smart with all this computer stuff?”

“I’m just a natural is all. I understand this stuff real good….and of course don’t forget I got that double first with honours and have had plenty of practice.” She sat up straight, threw her head back, picked up her tea and casually said, “There you go we’re in.”

“Can you get the camera facing the drop off zone?” Eddie said, “About nine thirty to ten this morning and run it through. Yeah that’s it. There, that one. That’s the car. That silver Mercedes. See that lady getting out. That’s her. That’s the car all right.”

“She’s a smart looking lady. Look at her move. She has style does that one.” 

Eddie said, “see that registration? Can you get the owner of that?”

“That’s a breeze. Just two ticks.” And the address popped up on the screen. Peter Morgan and an address near Elephant and Castle. Carter wrote it on a scrap of paper and Eddie slipped it into his pocket.

“You are the most beautiful Nerd on the planet and I do love you,” said Eddie, grabbing her each side of her head and giving her a big kiss. Then said, “Sorry. I know the rules. No touching. Here buy something real nice and he gave her a small bundle of notes.

“I don’t want this Eddie. Besides, it's too much. And I love you as well and can make exceptions. Occasionally.”

“I know you do. Anyway it’s a present so you gotta take it or I’ll be offended and I’ll stop loving you.” 

“No you won’t.”

“I know. But I’ll still be offended. Now I’ve gotta go. I’ve a girl to find.”

“Well ain’t that just something new,” said Carter with a big laughing smile.

Slamming the taxi door Eddie replied to the tinny voice, “Round the back of Mint Street Park. I’ll show you where.” Then settled back thinking about Carter and thought that girl is really something else. 

Around four and he was closing the front door of the office and running up the stairs. Mike leaning back in the chair feet on the desk sipping from a mug. “Coffee?” he said, “Black though the milk’s lumpy and stinks.”

“No thanks. Carter got us the address. Over Elephant and Castle way. Silver Merc. Pete Morgan is his name. We gotta get there now, eh?” He fished out the note from his jacket pocket and gave it to Mike.

“Yeah and if he isn’t already there we’ll stay until the fella arrives. And bring the cash. A grand will do it.”

It was five thirty by the time they saw the Mercedes pull up against the kerb a short walk from the apartment block entrance. “That’s the car so that must be him,” said Eddie getting out of their car. When they were on stake out they drove. Somewhere to sit, somewhere to doze and somewhere to eat. Coffee cups and sandwich wrappers littered the back seat.

 Quickly crossing the road Eddie caught up with Pete just as he was about to go inside the building. “Excuse me,” he said extremely politely, “Are you Peter Morgan?”

Turning round slowly and carefully and looking at Eddie with one of those suspicious sort of stares, “Who’s asking?” Pete said.

 Eddie showed his IOC registration card and said, “Eddie Hanson and Mike Dobson. Private investigators.”

“Pete studied the card then said. ''So. What d’you want with me?”

“You dropped a fare at the station today. A lady with long blond hair. About 9.45. We have to urgently get in touch with her.”

“What makes you think it was me? Anyway even if I did, why should I say anything?”

“She might be in danger. It’s really important.”

“In danger. What sort of danger?”

“A pickpocket lifted a package from us. We chased him but he dropped it into her bag. She got on the train before we could catch up with her.”

“What’s this package all about then?”

“It’s a document from a multi-national company and they might go to some lengths to get it back.”

“And do they know she’s got it?”

“Maybe but we’re not sure. We don’t want to take the chance. We know she got on the Exeter train. All we need to know is what station she was getting off at and where she might be going.”

“Well I’m not sure….”

“It’s really urgent and there’s a reward.”

“How much?”

“A grand and paid up front.”

“Now?”

“Yup. That’s the definition of up front, isn’t it?”

 “You’re a PI?”

“Yup. You’ve seen the documents. You can check us out anytime.”

“OK. She’s a great lady and I really like her but if she’s in trouble….she was getting off at Honiton and going onto Sidmouth. I don’t know anymore than that.”

Counting out the fifties Eddie started to say thanks….then stopped with his hand hanging a note over Pete’s and said, “Her name and address as well. In case she comes back.” and Pete told him and he finished counting out the notes then wrote it in his notebook. “Thank you for your help,” he said thinking this fella likes her alright but not quite as much as a fat bundle of readies.

Shutting the driver’s door Mike said, “We need to get down there. This time of day it’s about a four hour drive. First we drop in at my place and pick up a few things. Then yours. Then to the office. We need to get the folder in case time gets short. If we get the package we can courier the folder from Devon if necessary. A bike will be quicker than our car, Then we follow it up.”

With two bags in the boot and back at the office Mike parked the car against the kerb while Eddie went up to get the folder. He still had his notebook in his hand. Rushing he put it down on the desk. He closed up the folder, picked it up and was down the stairs two at a time to the car where Mike had the engine running. “We’ll need a place to stay for a few days,” he said, “Use your phone and check out hotels. Make it cheap and cheerful. That’s all we'll need.”

He pulled away from the kerb heading for the A3 to take them south then west along the coast and a straight route to Sidmouth.