Pop Goes the Weasel | страница 90

Helen felt a shiver inside. Could this be their killer?

‘Interestingly,’ Charlie continued, ‘Angel doesn’t advertise, doesn’t have a website, she’s totally offline. She gets her punters by word of mouth alone, current clients tipping off other men about where to find her. She’s elusive and it should be said expensive, but she’s clearly willing to do anything if the money is right.’

‘So she’s hard to find and a closely guarded secret?’ Helen interjected.

‘Exactly.’

‘Good work, Charlie. So top priority is to find these other forum users. Lets focus on those who’ve used Angel’s services and who might have chatted with Matthews, Reid and Hill. These men can lead us to Angel, so let’s find them fast. I’m going down to the surveillance points, but want to be kept up to speed with developments. DS Brooks will run things in my absence.’

As Helen departed, Charlie set about organizing the team. It had cost her a lot to come back to work, but perhaps it had been the right choice after all. ‘DS Brooks’, she liked the way that sounded, and knew there and then that she wanted back in.

Helen stopped in her tracks the moment she saw her. Anger flared inside her as she saw Emilia Garanita leaning casually against her Kawasaki in the bike park outside the station.

‘You’re in a restricted area and currently obstructing police business, Emilia, so if you wouldn’t mind?’

It was said politely, but without warmth. Emilia smiled – always that same Cheshire Cat smile – and slowly peeled herself off the bike.

‘I’ve tried calling you, Helen, but you won’t answer. I’ve talked to a number of my uniform friends, I even had a quick heart-to-heart with your boss, but nobody seems to know what’s going on. Are you clamming up on me again?’

‘I don’t know what you mean. I gave you the tipoff about the DNA and much more besides.’

‘But that’s not the whole story, is it, Helen? Harwood feels it too. Something’s going on in that team of yours and I want to know what it is.’

‘You want to know what it is?’ Helen replied slowly and with maximum sarcasm.

‘Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten our little deal already? I said I wanted exclusive access on this story and I meant it.’

‘You’re getting paranoid, Emilia. As soon as there are any new developments, I’ll let you know, ok?’

She moved to get on her bike, but Emilia grabbed her arm.

‘No, not ok.’

Helen looked at her as if she were mad – did she really want to be charged with assaulting a police officer?