Dead Of Winter (Willis/Carter #1)(82)

‘Yes. We know he lives in a bubble. His work and his flowers seem to be all that matters to him. Let’s keep pushing, Ebb. I want to know the real Martingale.’

Ebony wasn’t sure whether Carter was being mischievous or whether he was excited by the thought of peeling off Martingale’s armour.

Carter took out his phone and the piece of paper Martingale had given him and dialled the number for Nikki de Lange: ‘Straight to answerphone, Ebb. It’s either engaged or switched off . . . what a surprise.’





Chapter 53


Back at Fletcher House Ebony went to find Robbo. He was at his desk. She gave him her phone, the battery and the SIM card.

‘What’s the score, Robbo?’ Carter joined them. ‘What kind of damage and who would do it?’

‘Okay, the news isn’t that good. Because it’s a smartphone it stores all your emails and passwords and has access right across all your private stuff. It can download your music, your photos. It knows the location you took your photos. It can access all the other PCs you use because it knows your passwords. Have you changed all your passwords?’ She nodded. ‘You’re going to have to get a new phone as well as a SIM card. He can just order a replacement SIM card for that phone otherwise.’

‘Oh God.’

‘Also . . . and this is very interesting . . . if you saw it switch on by itself that’s because he was listening to everything you said. All your private conversations, all the meetings we’ve had in here.’ Ebony groaned. Robbo continued: ‘The only small scrap of good news is that it stops here with the change of passwords. The even more bad news is that, to be honest, he’s already downloaded everything personal of yours anyway. He must have known he’d only get one window of opportunity and he took it. This was never meant to stay on your phone long. He knew you’d find it and by that time he had what he wanted. Carmichael can do this kind of thing in his sleep. He trained me in a lot of stuff I’m not allowed to do.’

‘Oh God . . .’ Ebony could see her career whistling past her ears. Now she wasn’t just hurt that Carmichael had done it to her, she was angry. ‘Has he been able to get into HOLMES?’

‘I don’t think so. The only way to hack into the machines here is if you load a dodgy attachment. HOLMES wouldn’t really interest him anyway. I think he’d be more interested in the emails that fly around the office and all the stuff that you’re looking at.’

‘He knew about Sonny then?’ Ebony was feeling sick.

Robbo nodded. ‘I expect so but, Ebb . . . just get on with your job. Carmichael is one of those that you couldn’t keep out if he was determined. You saved him a bit of time maybe, but you couldn’t have stopped him.’

‘I take full responsibility, Ebb,’ said Carter. ‘I sent you up there on your own. It was always risky.’

Robbo shook his head. ‘Just because he hacked into your phone doesn’t mean he doesn’t trust you, Ebb; the opposite. He chose to see the investigation through your eyes. He trusts your interpretation of it.’

‘Exactly,’ said Carter. ‘Try phoning him again on the way to the de Langes’ apartment. He must know we know about him now. He’s on his own now.’

Ebony hadn’t got through by the time they parked up and Carter rang the bell for the janitor at the block of flats in the grounds of the Mansfield, opposite the hospital entrance. They didn’t get any reply. Carter pressed all of the buttons and someone buzzed and let them in.

‘Second floor, Sarge.’

They walked up the stairs. On the second floor a woman came out of her flat to see who it was that she’d let in.

‘Hello . . . police.’ Carter showed his warrant card. ‘Thanks for helping us. We’re rubbish at breaking and entering aren’t we, Ebb?’

The woman smiled. ‘I thought you might be the postman. I’ve been waiting for days for a parcel.’

‘Been a long stay for you here, has it?’

‘Yes . . .’ She sighed. ‘My husband is in the hospital. I’m desperate to get home but he wants me here so . . . what can I do?’ She rolled her eyes and smiled. Ebony checked the address she had for Justin and Nikki de Lange. She knocked on the flat door opposite.

‘There’s no one in there.’

‘You sure?’ asked Carter.

‘Very sure. I wish there was. There’s no one but me in this whole place . . . ’

They left the apartment block and crossed over the car park to the hospital. Ebony caught a glimpse of Justin de Lange at his office window.

‘What exactly is it you need from me, detectives?’ Justin asked as Ivy escorted Carter and Ebony into his office.

‘A little girl, Shannon Mannings? Her body was found in the garden at Totteridge.’

‘I am really sad to hear about it.’

‘We thought the name might ring a bell? She was from a children’s home in Wales. It’s one that the Chrissie Newton Foundation help,’ said Ebony.

‘Well I didn’t know her personally. I’ve never met any of the children that we help.’

‘Of course, just thought I’d ask.’ Carter smiled and continued: ‘One of the things we have to consider is whether someone is conducting a personal vendetta against Mr Martingale or whether he is somehow linked to the killer without knowing.’