Chapter 30

OSCAR PRINTED OUT a screen shot from Richard Ramsey’s work computer. “We’re not going to find any deleted files here. This hard drive was replaced just like the one on the home computer.”

Harry groaned. It had been a long day. Already it was dark outside the High Street office, and so far, they’d made little progress. “With Von Zandt senior and junior going in and out of Ramsey International like they owned the place, that’s no surprise. What about on the other computers there?”

“Big fat nothing. There’s no trace of anything except routine Ramsey International business. ”

Harry nodded. “Someone made sure we’d find nothing. The guv will be disappointed, but I don’t think he was really expecting much. These credit card purchase records might pay off, though.”

“We could use a break. That might make bringing in Interpol worth it.” Oscar didn’t say what Harry expected they were both thinking. Darby Reid was trouble waiting to happen.

Harry grunted. “I don’t think we’ll hear back on the cardholder information until tomorrow. I expect they’ll be held in the name of some trust set up in an offshore bank, but that information is easier to get than it used to be.”

“Easier, maybe, but still a bleeding pain.”

“Looked like you were getting special attention from the guv’s sister.” Harry shifted his eyes to his computer screen, suppressing a smile.

“Lucky me.”

“What did she want?”

“I’m not sure. Not me, I’m sure, but she tried to act like it.”

“Dangerous, that one.” Harry weighed his next words. He’d never acknowledged that he knew Oscar was gay, and Oscar had never shared anything that would invite inquiry on the subject. “Not too bright if that was the route she took to get to you.”

Oscar shot an assessing glance his way. “No.” His eyes behind the thick glasses didn’t waver.

Harry grinned, sending the message that it didn’t bother him and that he wasn’t willing to pretend he didn’t know anymore. Oscar gave a tight smile, but Harry thought his message had been delivered. “We need to keep an eye on her.”

“Do you think the Superintendent sees it?”

Harry shook his head. “She’s family. And he’s distracted.”

“Yeah, something’s not right with him. Like where’d he’d go off to so early? And taking the morning off yesterday? It’s not like him.”

Harry shrugged. “He was watching the clock all day and shot out of here at six on the nose. If it were me, I’d say it was a bird. Being it’s him, I’d still say it’s a bird. For him that means it’s his wife, and that’s unlikely given there’s no indication she’s even in the country. But the evidence points that way.”

“Good for him, then.”

“Why do you say that?” That Oscar even had an opinion on the subject surprised Harry.

“He works more than all of us. Whether it’s his wife or someone else…”

Harry interrupted. “It wouldn’t be someone else. It’s her or something else entirely. Nothing was on his calendar for tonight, so it’s not one of his regular do’s like those dinners and things he’s always going to.” They all knew those social commitments were part of Reid’s job. The guv hated going to them, but as with everything else that was expected of him, he just did it. Gruesome life, Harry thought. Church, run, work, stiff-collar parties with stiff-arsed people, and no sweet, soft bird to sink into at night. Then the same thing over and over, day after day.

Oscar nodded. “If we could find the old hard drives, I could restore them. But I doubt that’s going to happen.”

“Tomorrow I’ll check with Patty Cady. Maybe she saw something or heard about Ramsey’s work computer hard drive being replaced.”

“Great.” Oscar logged off. “I’m calling it a night. There’s only so much disappointment I can take.”

“Me, too. I’m meeting a dolly bird five minutes ago. Where’d Darby and Allison get off to?”

“Darby left to go to dinner with DI Lawrence.”

Harry raised his eyebrows. “A meeting of giant egos. I’d like to be a genetically enhanced fly listening to the two of them talk. And Allison?”

“She’s below with Frank working on something.”

“They made it up, then?”

Oscar nodded.

“That’s good. I’ll just pop down and tell them we’re leaving.”