Jack went to the Blackley Telegraph office first. Dolby was in his room, a large cup of coffee in front of him.
‘I should have made you buy me this,’ Dolby said, chewing on a granola bar.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Because my idea worked,’ Dolby said. ‘The phone has been ringing all morning. It seems like your article about the police failing has touched a nerve. I’ve just had the press officer on the phone to me, asking why I’m attacking rather than helping.’
‘It must give you a glow,’ Jack said. ‘But, yeah, I owe you one, for keeping my name off it. Just make sure the cheque is paid to the right person.’
Dolby tossed the granola wrapper into the bin and lifted the lid off his coffee. ‘I don’t know why I buy this crap,’ he said, grimacing as he took a sip.
‘Because it makes you feel big to talk Italian when you buy a drink?’
He pointed and winked. ‘You’re on form today, but I know you’re not here to talk about my brunch. What can I do for you?’
‘Have we been asked by the police to hold anything back?’ Jack said. ‘Are you hearing any rumours?’
Dolby shook his head. ‘The police don’t speak to me anyway, and they always hold something back.’ Then he frowned. ‘Why do you ask? You’re the one with access. The sweet nothings drying up?’
Jack smiled. ‘Laura won’t talk about stuff like that, because she knows that you’ll print anything to sell a paper.’
‘Okay, let’s cut the sexual tension in here,’ Dolby said, his hands held up in mock surrender. ‘What have you got?’
Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out the emails. ‘I’ve been getting these.’
Dolby took them and began to read, and Jack knew he had his attention when the polystyrene cup went onto the desk. Dolby looked up. ‘Who are these from?’
‘I don’t know. They came last night, and then more this morning.’
Dolby’s mouth opened as if to say something, but then closed it and sat back in his chair, tapping his lip with his finger. ‘It could just be bullshit, some crank wanting attention.’
‘Possibly,’ Jack said, nodding. ‘But there is another possibility.’
‘Go on.’
‘They could be from the killer.’
Dolby looked at Jack, and then back at the emails. ‘Murders attract attention-seekers.’
‘I know, but could you rule it out?’
Dolby handed them back to Jack. ‘I’m not going to run a story on them. If it is some crank, the publicity could backfire.’
‘I’m not asking you to run it yet.’
‘So what are you asking?’
‘I’m going to speak to Laura, and if there’s anything in it, see if they will give me exclusive access.’
‘Okay, talk to them and let’s see what we can do.’
‘Provided they will work with us,’ Jack said. ‘The poison piece you got me to write won’t make you popular.’
‘So go in as freelance. Just make sure you sell the scoop to me.’
‘It will mean that you’ll have to work with the police. Can you do that, Dolby?’
‘Jack, I will do anything that makes people buy this paper.’
‘I thought as much. I’ll get back to you,’ Jack said, and walked out of the office, emails in hand.