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Police Machinery

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Tommy did not expect an early return call from DC Nkata. It was the weekend when all of Lynley's team was not on call. None of them picked up the phone when he called or if so they already were too far away from London and on some short trip with their families. His team was of no great help. Of no help, to be precise. One of them even dared to mention that Lynley was biased and should leave that matter to a different team anyway. Tommy swore to himself that he would handle that later. At the moment he just had to find Barbara and so he called Chief Superintendent Martinez to get a team. But Martinez was of the same opinion as the one colleague from Lynley's own team.

Someone else had to handle this, so Martinez assigned DI Morton's team to the case and gave Lynley the clear order to keep his hands off that matter. "Is that understood? You are far to close to DS Havers to stay rational. But we need you as a witness nonetheless. Wait for Morton and then tell her everything you've seen. Don't worry, Lynley, I'm pretty sure you will be of help."

DI Lynley, as well as DI Morton when she was called, heard between the lines that the Chief Super had given them free hand how to handle that matter. It was just that DI Morton would have the official lead in this case.

Of course it did not really work. He was too worried. Before Tommy had informed Martinez he even already had put Barbara on the official wanted list of London's police on his own initiative. She was one of them, so a little later probably almost every London officer looked out for her and would call Lynley if there was progress, if there was any hint where she could be. Only after he had done that Tommy had the short talk with Martinez and then he stayed in his office waiting for DI Morton, sipping at his cold coffee. The horrible brew kept him sober. At least a bit.

Needless to mention that he could not be inactive for long. In the time until Morton was informed and had the chance to come over to him Tommy already had requested access to the vehicle registration office's data. After that he had tried to call her again but this time Barbara's mobile phone only rang four times before it was rejected and went to voice mail. He left another message and banged his fist onto the desktop. He was frustrated.


It took Morton only a few minutes to drop by. Lynley was relieved it was her and not any other stupid bloke of the Met. Being one of the longest-serving DIs, Morton was very experienced and she was known for her empathy. And she also knew about the special friendship between Tommy and Barbara. Tommy believed that she was the best choice. He was glad that she and her team were on call today.

The door to his office was wide open so DI Morton could see him the moment she stepped into the main office. He was staring at his mobile phone in front of him on the desk as if he tried to will it to ring. He looked angry, confused and full of suppressed panic.

"Tommy!" she greeted and immediately turned soft. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Tommy nodded with a smile that told her he was lying.

"Will you manage to help me?"

"I'm all focussed, Cass. Let's get started." He might be focussed but he was all but fine, that was clearly visible.

"But I am the leading DI, is it clear?" Cass asked with a soft voice that still left no room for any misunderstanding. And Tommy nodded again. Despite his attempt to display a cold exterior there was desperation in his eyes. Cass could see it. "Good." she told him nonetheless and sat down on the visitor side of Tommy's desk. "What do we have so far?"

In short words Lynley explained what he had witnessed. How the van had stopped and how the clown had taken Barbara. And how fast it all had happened. Recalling it and telling about it was extremely painful.

"I'm sorry, Cass, but I couldn't just sit and wait." Tommy admitted ruefully. "I've already requested access to vehicle registration data."

She understood his motives. "That's okay. It's good. No waste of time. So when you get it you can busy yourself with these lists for both cars." DI Morton approved. "And my expert eye Raj already is working on CCTV footage. I'm pretty sure there will be enough material of that van or of the green car. We all know how controlled this area here is. You can't even grind your fag on the floor without being noticed."

They shared a lopsided smile.

"But you can obviously abduct a police officer in front of New Scotland Yard." Tommy grunted with exasperation.

"We'll find her, Tommy. Mick already tries to get the mobile log-in data." DI Morton left Tommy in his office after she requested an immediate call when he would find something. "No solo action, Tommy." she addressed him again when she already stood in the main door. "And then you can join us in my office."


Tommy only sighed and nodded, so Morton went back to her team. For a few moments Tommy let panic sink in. He placed his flat hands onto his empty desk and stared into nothingness. Again his mind recalled every second of how that clown had dragged Barbara into the van. He racked his brain if he had seen anything on this white van that would make it special but he only remembered the dark windows. He could not even recall if he had seen the driver.

While he steered his memory to the other car behind the van with closed eyes, Tommy let the palms of his hands rub nervously across the desk. That other car seemed to be equally unobtrusive. A light green, or even silverish green Ford Fiesta. Nothing special about that brand and model, except maybe the colour. But Tommy knew that this car was the most sold car in the UK, so there definitely would be more than one registered here in London. He would be able to check that if only the slow working Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency would answer his request some time. At one point of waiting and brooding Tommy cursed, clenched his fist and smashed it onto his desk again. It only hurt but did not make his torment any better. But as if that bang was the signal, his computer announced an incoming e-mail. DVLA finally had answered.

For about twenty minutes DI Lynley was busy with a task he usually would have handed over to some subordinate colleague. This time he was glad that he could do something that kept him from thinking too much. Thinking was hurting. Thinking let panic grow. It was nothing he needed in this situation.

With the three letters of the van's number plate he was able to narrow it down to a few hundred vehicles. DS Raj Thakur called and gave him almost the complete license number of the green Ford. He also voiced his disappointment, but as hard as he had tried, for the van he only could decipher LX02. Raj would continue his search with other traffic cameras further on the assumed route. "The last letter looks as if it was E, F, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, R, or a 1. Sorry, but I really was just able to check the rear plate. The front plate was either gone or displayed in the window. There is a nasty dent in the front bumper bar, so additionally we could check traffic incidents."

"Yes, thank you. That's better than nothing, Raj." Tommy sighed, rubbing his forehead in desperation.

At least they had the complete characters for the Ford. Raj also sent the best still images he had from the van driver via e-mail and told Lynley that DC McCormick already ran the face-recognition software.

"But it's highly unlikely that there will be a match for the clown. I'm afraid our technology isn't that far to recognise a painted face like that, Sir."

"Yes, I've already considered that, too." Tommy nodded with a grim smile. "Thank you anyway, Raj."

In the end Tommy had narrowed it down to six white vans in London and the Ford of a Marc Hazlewood, resident of South Tottenham. He saved his results and went over to DI Morton's office. In consultation with her they decided to meet Hazlewood immediately. Tommy was allowed to come with her. She could not let him stay in his office and wait on his own.


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