poison, and it could be a potential security risk. If it was, than it was definitely a matter for them and not just the police,
“So a politician is murdered, likely poisoned by a drug cocktail that made him go mad first.” Said Jack, but John wanted to piece if together further still,
“So the most plausible explanation so far is that he was tied up, ingested the poison, and probably was tortured for some reason.”
“Looks that way doesn’t it? Anyway that’s for the police to decide if that hypothesis is correct. For now that’s all they have to go on. But what about the motive? Don’t forget, if one junior politician is murdered in this way, then the threat to other senior members of government are just as great. And that poses a definite security risk.”
John sat at the computer to begin his search, there was no problem logging on to his system and he set to work. He began by scouring the internet for any potential clues, who were they? What was their motive? Was it political, racial or ideological? The global reach of the internet meant that it wasn’t too long before he came across news websites harbouring rumours and gossip,
“Look at this, more criticism of the security services. Says here that given recent events and the murder, public faith in national security has plummeted. It asks here if this country has an actual security service and if so why is it not protecting us. It makes MI5 look impotent and us look like idiots.”
Jack tried to respond, “Just gossip. Ignore it; you and I both know there is something deeper happening here. Look, you continue to search for a possible known suspect, search the personnel files, access it through the national database and see if anyone stands out. I’m off to see Harvey to report back.”
John looked on as Jack left the room leaving John with his computer and the entire nation on his files. He had a lot of work to do.
Half an hour passed before Jack returned looking rather energetic, almost agitated. John, who had been sifting through database file observed his partner’s state,
“Harvey has given us the go-ahead to pursue this case. He clearly thinks this is a security threat to other high ranking members of government and possibly others. He wants to know who they are, what do they want and why.” He said turning to the window to look at the bright morning outside,
“Something is going on out there John, and I want to know what.”
John got up and out of his seat grabbing an A4 file in the process; he had some news of his own,
“Well we may have a lead. While you were away I searched through national databases for any individual specialising in poisons. It came up with too many, so I refined my search, cross referenced with internet matches. That gave me a hook; apparently someone was arrested about two years ago for terrorism offenses involving poisons.” He said while handing him a thin file. Opening the light brown cardboard cover Jack read the info inside, he was impressed but still had some questions,
“The poison of choice for terrorists is usually ricin.”
John, undeterred pressed on with his findings,
“Yes but this one person stands out as interesting, his name is Maxwell Grey. 37 years old and born in this country he is the son of an immigrant from Georgia who married a woman over here. Becoming a dissident around 10 years ago and radicalised by a hatred of authority, he was responsible for the bombing of an administrative district office in southern Russia which killed 17 people. He fled back to the UK about 8 years ago therefore evading Russian authorities.”
This sounded like the ideal man, a possibly candidate behind the King’s Cross attack he continued to listen to John,
“Russia had so far unsuccessfully tried to extradite Grey from the UK but to no avail, but listen to this, here’s the interesting bit.”
This was the part Jack wanted to hear. He move in a little closer to listen attentively,
Before becoming
Cathy Kelly
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Gillian Galbraith
Sara Furlong-Burr
Cate Lockhart
Minette Walters
Terry Keys
Alan Russell
Willsin Rowe Katie Salidas
Malla Nunn