The Death Messenger (Matthew Ryan Book 2)(87)

‘Hold the science lesson,’ O’Neil said. ‘If the victim is the owner of that bag, we have ID: Laura Stone – an award-winning TV documentary maker.’

Ryan’s reaction was instantaneous. Did Laura know Spielberg?

O’Neil was still talking. ‘Laura is another high-flier, a recognizable figure in her field of expertise, a budding Lucy Walker, if you will.’

A deep furrow appeared on Grace’s forehead. ‘Who’s she when she’s at home?’

‘She directed Waste Land,’ Ryan said. ‘You know the one. About the garbage pickers in Rio.’

‘Bet it was rubbish,’ Grace said, making him laugh.

O’Neil was too stoked to join in with the hilarity and keen to give them more. ‘Laura was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Single Documentary in 2012. I’m making enquiries regarding content. In the meantime, our priority is finding her body. Tidal experts are calculating where she might be, assuming she’s also in the sea. Underwater search teams will take their lead from them.’

‘Is she local?’ Ryan asked.

‘She was. Her parents now live in the Ardèche, which might explain why she’s not been reported missing. When her body is found – if it’s found – French police will deal on our behalf. That’s one less problem for us to worry about.’ O’Neil paused. ‘Save the black looks, Ryan. I know it’s not ideal but we have no choice. We’re spread too thinly as it is.’

‘It’s not that,’ he said.

‘What then?’

‘I was wondering if Laura knew Spielberg, or if Spielberg had a hand in the making of that documentary?’ Four pairs of eyes met across the room. ‘Worth checking out?’

‘Absolutely.’ Newman turned to face O’Neil. ‘You said Laura was a nominee. Did she win?’

‘You’re thinking bad loser?’ Ryan said.

‘Just a thought.’ Newman pressed O’Neil. ‘Did she win?’

‘No, and I’ll bear that theory in mind. Laura was up against the big guns. A BBC Panorama documentary took the award: Terry Pratchett, Choosing To Die.’

‘I listened to that,’ Caroline said. ‘It was sensitively done.’

‘Yeah well, Dignitas or no Dignitas, I don’t fancy ending my days on a Swiss Industrial Estate with people I’ve never met before,’ Grace said. ‘When I’ve had enough, I want to die at home drinking gin and smoking Gauloises. You listening, Frank? I’m relying on you to make that happen.’

‘Done,’ Newman said.

Ryan wasn’t interested in their opinions on assisted dying. His mind was buzzing. ‘How old was Laura?’

O’Neil said: ‘Thirty-two.’

‘Then you have my apologies for the drama class,’ Grace said. ‘I still think Watson is a dickhead. I take it Laura now has priority status?’

O’Neil was nodding. ‘If any of you have outstanding actions that relate directly or indirectly to the abuse angle and Tierney’s school – unless there’s some other link in addition – put them in for referral. Grace, filter that down to incident rooms so they’re not wasting their time. Not only does Laura Stone stand out from other victims in terms of gender and age, she has links with film-making. From day one, we’ve had reason to believe that our killer does too. That means an entirely new direction, starting now.’ There were no arguments.





49


O’Neil put her phone on the dash as the countryside flashed by. They were travelling so fast it was merely a smudge of green on either side of their vehicle. ‘I thought you’d like to know that you are no longer answerable, in any way, shape or form, to the grey man,’ she said, a glint of mischief in her eye. ‘The term Hilary used was “surplus to requirements”.’

‘Because he got in the way of us talking to our suspect?’

‘That didn’t help his case. Forsythe knew he was making life difficult for us and had a quiet word with Newman. I gather emails were intercepted. In Ford’s opinion, we are a couple of mug punters unfit for our current posts. He was currying favour with other junior ministers to back his point of view and have us removed from the unit with immediate effect. It backfired.’

‘That is good news.’

She glanced sideways. ‘I want to thank you, Ryan. Frank is as good as you said he was. I don’t know how long he intends making himself available to us, but he’s an asset I’d hate to lose. Grace too, even though her methods are somewhat unconventional.’ The grin slid off her face. ‘When Ford realizes he’s out, he’ll make a song and dance of it. He’s not a happy man.’

‘If he was caught red-handed, he has no grounds for complaint.’

‘That won’t stop him. But with Hilary out in the open, there’s no need for a middleman. Still, watch your back.’

At 14.32, the satnav indicated that they should leave the main road. Following instructions, Ryan brought the vehicle to a halt three miles further on. He got out of the car, happy to stretch his legs, smiling at O’Neil across the roof of their vehicle as she climbed out too. Her focus was the ‘home’ of the person they had come to see, a seventy-foot narrowboat moored close to Shifford Lock on the River Thames in Oxfordshire – a quintessentially English sight if ever they had seen one.