‘Two voicemails.’ Bog announced his initial discovery. Before turning on Billie’s phone, he had unpacked a mini-laptop from a pouch he’d brought with him, and attached a couple of cables.
‘Can you put them on speaker?’ asked Ed. They had moved away from the bar and found a quiet corner for privacy as more customers drifted in.
Bog was listening on an earpiece, and shook his head. ‘I could, but you want all of Manchester to hear? One moment… sounds interesting… police.’ Ed and Robin exchanged a look. ‘Copying it now. Let me check the other… same guy.’ He listened to the second message. ‘Okay, boss. Got that one too. You want to listen now?’
He passed the earpiece to Robin while Ed could barely contain his impatience, glaring at the approach of two girls who wisely turned away. No talent here.
Robin frowned as he removed the earpiece. ‘Ed, listen to these. I need your opinion.’
His partner was eager to oblige, nodding to Bog to replay the messages as soon as the bud reached his ear. He heard a well-spoken voice with a southern accent.
‘Hello, Mr Vane. My name is Tanner and I’m a senior officer with the GMP. I’d very much appreciate a call back regarding an incident at Salford Quays last week. You can reach me direct on 07700 900 876.’ The second recording followed.
‘Mr Vane? This is Chief Superintendent Tanner again. I realise it’s a Sunday afternoon and you probably thought I’d be off duty, but this matter is very urgent now. I’d appreciate a call back as soon as you get this, whatever the time. My number is 07700 900 876.’
‘What do you think?’ Ed’s expression was blank. ‘Is this for real?’
Robin had been considering the same thought while Ed listened to the playback. ‘Possibly. Bog, check for infiltration while we think about this, will you? It sounds plausible that the police would contact Billie again after your little… accident. He provided a statement, but he told me they showed very little interest.’
‘He told me that, too.’
‘So we have to ask ourselves if a record of Billie’s statement reached someone at a higher level. And if so, why would someone at the rank of chief superintendent make direct contact? That’s a mobile number he left for Billie to call back. Why not a landline, perhaps with an extension?’
‘You’re thinking this might not be the police at all?’
Robin’s reaction was noncommittal. ‘We have to consider that as a possibility.’
‘Then the other alternative is?’
‘Peter Gris.’
Bog interrupted. ‘Phone is infiltrated. Nonconsensual tracker too. Software only.’
Ed looked at his partner and saw his reaction. Up to then he had accepted bad news was likely. Hearing confirmation of it still came as a shock. ‘Little feller was right all along. The bastards got inside his phone. Well, they can’t track him down now. But what in Christ’s name can we do? Go to the real police?’
‘Let me see that, will you?’ Robin peered at the data displayed on Bog’s laptop and sighed. No doubt about it. ‘Lodged in there via Bluetooth. Simple but effective. Billie was right to trust his instincts.’
‘Can you get rid of it?’
Bog glanced up at Ed, then saw Robin shake his head.
‘No! That won’t achieve any purpose now. We have to find a way… wait… why don’t we just do the same?’
‘How do you mean?’
‘We have the technology.’ Robin’s face brightened. ‘They say the best way to fight a fire is with another fire. We’ll give them what they want. Then they can lead us to what we want!’
‘Do we even know what we want?’ For once, Ed found himself at a loss to understand his partner of three years.
‘We need to know who we’re dealing with, Ed! Bog, can you clone this thing? Without the tracker?’
‘Sure, it’ll take an hour on this kit. A lot quicker at the lab.’
‘And then can you put our own tracker onto it?’
‘Leaving this one in place? You bet.’
‘Do it, then. Right now, please. Ed, I think it’s your round. Fruit juice only, mind. Then I’ll explain.’
Ed shook his head in wonder, shifted himself upright and followed a cautious path to the bar.
*
A senior officer in the Greater Manchester Police was attending a meeting with a group of local councillors when a phone vibrated in his pocket. It was not his official handset, and he couldn’t afford to ignore it.
‘Just a moment, folks.’ He glanced at the screen and recognised the name. ‘Sorry, everyone, I’m going to have to take this. Excuse me a moment.’ He exited the meeting room and found an empty corridor before answering the call.
‘Tanner.’
‘Is that Chief Superintendent Tanner?’ It was a young man’s voice with a local accent.
‘Speaking. Who’s this?’
‘My name’s Matt Haig, and I’m a bartender at All Star Lanes on Deansgate. I’m ringing from a phone that was left behind by a customer a few days ago.’
Tanner found he was holding his breath, so let it out slowly as the caller continued.
‘You left a couple of voicemails, so I thought it best to contact you.’
‘That’s very kind of you, Matt. You don’t happen to know the owner of the phone, do you?’
‘No, sorry. We thought someone might come back for it. People usually do. Anyway, as you’re a policeman, I thought you ought to know.’
Tanner thought he heard another voice in the background. ‘That’s right. Good of you to call me. And very clever of you to access the voicemails.’
‘No problem. I mean about the voicemail. There’s no security code or anything. Bit careless, really.’
‘You’re dead right. He has been careless.’
‘Are you going to collect it or should I hand it in to a police station?’
‘We’ll collect it. I’ll send someone round soon as I can.’
‘Okay thanks. Bye.’
The caller disconnected, leaving Tanner with a small glow of satisfaction as he strolled down the corridor in search of a gofer.
*
‘Fifty pounds? You’re sure?’
Robin nodded at the young man’s wide grin. ‘That was brilliant, Matt. You’ve been a big help, honestly. We’ll just wait over there now and see who turns up.’
‘A policeman, right?’
‘Probably. But he might not be in uniform.’
Robin returned to his seat with Ed and Bog, his wallet suitably lighter, but feeling quietly confident about the result.
‘I guess we’re not expecting sirens and blue flashing lights.’
‘No, Ed.’
‘So, you’re convinced this Tanner guy is not really a policeman. Simply another lackey of Peter Gris?’
‘In my opinion, that is the most likely answer. Matt did a good job. He didn’t even freak out when the guy asked how he’d accessed the voicemails. Just claimed there was no security.’
‘But there is.’
‘Not any more,’ said Bog. ‘And I wiped those contacts you said. It’ll look clean enough and all they got is the call log. If I had longer I could’ve fixed that too.’
Robin took a sip of malt whisky. ‘No matter. We’ll take the risk. At least now we should be able to keep tabs on that phone ourselves.’
‘Do we tell Billie?’
‘I’ll call him later. Or you can. Use the WhatsApp group and then Chrissie will be in the picture too. In the meantime, I intend to enjoy this Laphroaig.’
The two men sat quietly for another twenty minutes while Bog worked his magic. They watched the activities around them, keeping a keen eye out for any new customers engaged in conversation with their cooperative bartender. Another round of drinks reached their table shortly before Ed gave Robin a nudge.
A uniformed police officer had just entered the bar, causing a lull in everyone’s chatter. Matt immediately waved him over and began a short conversation, ending with Billie’s phone exchanging ownership. As the policeman stepped out the door, Matt gave the group of three a big thumbs-up and a broad smile.
Ed spoke without looking at Robin. ‘Well, I guess that blows the pretend police theory right out of the water.’
*
He heard the connection kick in, then a rustling of static before a familiar voice acknowledged his call.
‘Yes.’
‘It’s Tanner.’
‘I know who it is. I’m driving.’
‘You’re not on hands-free then?’
‘So arrest me. What do you want?’
‘You said to keep you updated about Billie Vane’s phone. Well, guess what I’ve got in my hand?’
‘This had better not be a sick riddle.’
‘Barman at All Star Lanes handed it in. Said he didn’t know who left it.’
‘How’d you get it? When?’
‘He accessed the voicemails. Called me this afternoon. That a quick enough solution for you?’
‘Accessed the voicemails? You buy that?’
‘No reason not to. The phone’s not got a passcode or fingerprint sensor. So are you going to come and pick it up?’ He could hear traffic noise over the earpiece as Meredith briefly considered the question.
‘You’ll have to take it to him yourself. He’ll want it asap.’
‘What? I can’t just—’
‘Yes, you can. You’ve got your instructions, same as me. Should take you about an hour. If I turn back now it’ll be double that. Now get off your pert little arse and make like a postman. He’ll be happy to see you.’