Mainly dialogue. The missing files. Could be helpful. Could be padding. Useful, or not. Too early to say.
‘Who knows the details of his new identity? You?’
‘God, no. Come on, you know what it’s like. Need to know basis. Wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m assuming you wouldn’t either when you’re undercover.’
I nodded. He had a point there. ‘Just his control then? No clerical support, nothing like that?’
‘No. Just his control. Who’s no longer with us, sad to say.’
I shook my head. I didn’t like the sound of this. Accidents had a habit of becoming rather more than the sum of their parts when known killers were involved. No matter how indirectly.
My source appeared troubled. Reluctant to take this further or just unsettled by the nature of my questions? I didn’t know, but I was about to find out.
‘Okay,’ I said, ‘the only person who knows his new identity was killed in a freak accident; fell off his balcony while adjusting his satellite dish.’
‘Coroner’s verdict. Police satisfied. End of story.’
Blood out of a stone stage approaching fast. I pressed on.
‘I don’t like accidents, particularly so-called freak accidents. You say, officially, no question it is an accident, but I’ve asked around. On my own. Dead man, adjustable spanner in his hand, fell off his balcony. Satellite dish hanging off the wall. No witnesses, but there’s an obvious explanation. That the gist of it?’
My source looked troubled. He nodded.
‘That’s bollocks,’ I said, trying to stay in control. ‘I’ve asked around. Didn’t service his car himself. Had a window cleaner, every fortnight. Got a man in to mend a dripping tap. That say anything to you?’
‘Not a lot.’
‘Well, to me, that says there’s not one chance in a thousand he’s going to be hanging off a bloody balcony fiddling with a satellite dish.’
‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning he’d have got someone in to do it. Meaning you can forget any ideas it was an accident. Meaning somebody threw the poor bugger off his balcony. Poor bloody Harvey, he’s dead, can’t tell us either way.’
He shrugged. Not convinced either way, or unwilling to commit himself. I couldn’t tell.
I pushed on. ‘Harvey. The late Harvey. What about his cases? Where are his records?’
‘He only had three cases on the go. Winding down to retirement. Running down his caseload. I can’t give you details, you understand? Not even in very general terms.’
I held up a hand. Not pushing. Not on this matter. No point.
‘Just out of interest. No details. Was everything as it should have been?’
He frowned. Looked uncertain for the first time. ‘So far, without going into details, there does appear to be a little confusion. I can only find details of two cases. I’ve not had much chance to over everything yet. I took the files from the safe personally. They’re not allowed to leave this office, ever.’
‘Who keeps the key?’ I knew the answer, but wanted to hear him say it.
The control. He has the only key. Kept on his person at all times. No exceptions.’ He pulled his jacket to one side, showed me a key on a thick chain attached to his belt. It was familiar. My own control had an identical key. ‘This is the key to my safe. I never let it out of my sight.’
‘What happened to Harvey’s key?’
‘It wasn’t found. Very bad form. It should have been with…with the body’ he finished lamely.
‘And it wasn’t?’
‘No. We had to break into the safe. We retain a chap who does that sort of thing. It took him almost an hour. They’re very good safes.’
‘Were you there?’
‘Of course. When he’d got it open I sent the locksmith on his way and removed the contents. Had to sign for them of course and placed them in my own safe. Harvey’s files and also his premium bonds. Not strictly allowed of course, but not unheard of. Pretty secure place to leave one’s valuables after all.’
I stood a little closer. Crowding him a little. He looked uncertain. More used to being behind a desk than mixing with the boys from the sharp end of the job. I knew that. Played on it.
‘You’ve got Harvey’s files then? Safe and sound. In your safe.’
He looked uncertain again. Unsure of himself. ‘He definitely had three cases logged out to his care. I’ve checked. I know who they are. I even know who two of them are now. The other case. The file wasn’t in the safe. I’ve got full info on two cases.’
‘But not the third?’
He shrugged. ‘No. Not as such.’
‘Who would know?’
‘Only Harvey.’
‘And he’s dead.’
‘Yes.’
‘Not a living soul then.’
‘That’s the whole point of this system of course. Absolute security.’
I grinned. ‘Somebody knows. The fucker who threw Harvey off his balcony. He knows. He’ll have that missing safe key as well. I’ll ask him about that when I find him. Theft of Government property; can’t be having that, can we?’
