Read Online EG03 - The Water Lily Cross by Anthony Eglin - Free Book Online
Authors: Anthony Eglin
Ads: Link
quite likely that whoever did the shooting saw the camera and decided that they didn’t want their picture taken,” said Sergeant Jennings. “That thing sticks out like a bloody sore thumb.”
“At our altitude, they couldn’t miss it, that’s for sure,” Chris replied.
“You checked out the area where the gunfire took place?” asked Kingston.
“We did and still are,” Chisholm replied. “But if there was something that they didn’t want you to see from the air, more likely it would have been somewhere else in the vicinity. I doubt very much if they’d be that careless in drawing attention to the actual location.” He paused. “I forgot to ask. Was your camera running when the shots occurred?”
“I’m almost certain it was off by that time,” Kingston replied.
“Nevertheless, it might be a good idea for us to make a copy before you leave.”
After a moment of silence, Sergeant Jennings spoke up. “And you’re sure you saw nothing else unusual? Nothing that would warrant someone firing at you?” Norton shook his head and smiled. “I was kind of busy at the time.”
The sergeant looked at Kingston.
Kingston shook his head. Other than a marijuana farming operation, what could be so unusual? He was having difficulty trying to imagine what on earth could justify such a drastic, potentially deadly action. “Nothing,” he answered.
Several more minutes of conversation followed before Chisholm thanked them both and got up, ready to leave. “There are some real nutters out there,” he observed shaking his head. Anyway,” he said with a sniff, “we’ll let you know the minute we find anything. If air support comes up with anything on video we’ll let you know.”
“At one point, could I take a look at their tape?” asked Kingston.
“Very doubtful, I would think. It’ll be considered part of an ongoing criminal investigation. If they deem it nonsensitive, I suppose there might be a chance of seeing a vetted working copy.” He shook his head. “Truthfully, I don’t know. I’ve never been asked that question before.”
Before leaving the police station, Kingston put a call through to Martin Davis, the managing director of New Eden Productions, to learn that he was out for a couple of days. Kingston gave his secretary, Milly, a brief account of what had happened, saying that unless he heard to the contrary from Martin he would reschedule the remainder of the shoot as soon as he could get a new date from Henley Air—depending on the weather and most likely within the next several days.
“If that had happened to me, I’d be terrified to go up again. At least, so soon,” said Milly.
“Don’t worry, I’m going to insist on a different route,” Kingston replied with a chuckle. “Besides, as someone once said, the reason lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place, my dear, is that the same place isn’t there the second time,”
It was almost dark by the time Kingston turned the key in the front door of his flat. All he was thinking of by then was the welcome-home glass of Macallan waiting for him—that and kicking his shoes off and getting a good night’s sleep. On top of everything else his back was aching, not surprising when he thought about the crash landing.
The journey by train and taxi from Waterloo had taken more than three hours and he was thankful now that he and Chris had used the hour-and-a-half wait for the next train to grab a quick meal at the Bell, a pub close to the station recommended by the sergeant. Steak and ale and mushroom pies big enough to feed a small family, washed down with a pint of Courage best bitter, had put them both in a much better mood. As their empty plates were taken away, Chris had asked Kingston if he was sure he wanted to finish the photo shoot. “After what we went through, I wouldn’t blame you one bit if you want to opt out,” he said. Kingston assured him that he was up for it and would be all the better for it
“At our altitude, they couldn’t miss it, that’s for sure,” Chris replied.
“You checked out the area where the gunfire took place?” asked Kingston.
“We did and still are,” Chisholm replied. “But if there was something that they didn’t want you to see from the air, more likely it would have been somewhere else in the vicinity. I doubt very much if they’d be that careless in drawing attention to the actual location.” He paused. “I forgot to ask. Was your camera running when the shots occurred?”
“I’m almost certain it was off by that time,” Kingston replied.
“Nevertheless, it might be a good idea for us to make a copy before you leave.”
After a moment of silence, Sergeant Jennings spoke up. “And you’re sure you saw nothing else unusual? Nothing that would warrant someone firing at you?” Norton shook his head and smiled. “I was kind of busy at the time.”
The sergeant looked at Kingston.
Kingston shook his head. Other than a marijuana farming operation, what could be so unusual? He was having difficulty trying to imagine what on earth could justify such a drastic, potentially deadly action. “Nothing,” he answered.
Several more minutes of conversation followed before Chisholm thanked them both and got up, ready to leave. “There are some real nutters out there,” he observed shaking his head. Anyway,” he said with a sniff, “we’ll let you know the minute we find anything. If air support comes up with anything on video we’ll let you know.”
“At one point, could I take a look at their tape?” asked Kingston.
“Very doubtful, I would think. It’ll be considered part of an ongoing criminal investigation. If they deem it nonsensitive, I suppose there might be a chance of seeing a vetted working copy.” He shook his head. “Truthfully, I don’t know. I’ve never been asked that question before.”
Before leaving the police station, Kingston put a call through to Martin Davis, the managing director of New Eden Productions, to learn that he was out for a couple of days. Kingston gave his secretary, Milly, a brief account of what had happened, saying that unless he heard to the contrary from Martin he would reschedule the remainder of the shoot as soon as he could get a new date from Henley Air—depending on the weather and most likely within the next several days.
“If that had happened to me, I’d be terrified to go up again. At least, so soon,” said Milly.
“Don’t worry, I’m going to insist on a different route,” Kingston replied with a chuckle. “Besides, as someone once said, the reason lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place, my dear, is that the same place isn’t there the second time,”
It was almost dark by the time Kingston turned the key in the front door of his flat. All he was thinking of by then was the welcome-home glass of Macallan waiting for him—that and kicking his shoes off and getting a good night’s sleep. On top of everything else his back was aching, not surprising when he thought about the crash landing.
The journey by train and taxi from Waterloo had taken more than three hours and he was thankful now that he and Chris had used the hour-and-a-half wait for the next train to grab a quick meal at the Bell, a pub close to the station recommended by the sergeant. Steak and ale and mushroom pies big enough to feed a small family, washed down with a pint of Courage best bitter, had put them both in a much better mood. As their empty plates were taken away, Chris had asked Kingston if he was sure he wanted to finish the photo shoot. “After what we went through, I wouldn’t blame you one bit if you want to opt out,” he said. Kingston assured him that he was up for it and would be all the better for it
Similar Books
