Unlocking his desk drawer, Greg Lestrade reached in for the papers he had stashed there the night before.
Checking on all the names on Barrymore's list was a slow process; he needed to do them one or two at a time to avoid attracting unwanted attention or suspicion.
The information so far had been helpful, but had not yet identified a likely suspect. Lestrade typed in the next name and waited.
"Sir, can you spare a moment?"
He looked up to see Detective Constable Greenaway hovering in the doorway and so he beckoned the man in.
"What is it Greenaway?"
"It's that scientist bloke that went missing." The younger red-headed man said. "We've had reports of a number of suspicious looking characters watching his home."
"Oh?" Lestrade's interest piqued. "Do we have descriptions?"
The detective pulled a notebook out.
"Yeah, a bit sketchy, but one of them definitely had a septum piercing, with a chain leading to another ring in his ear."
Instructing the other man to get a few officers together, Lestrade sent him to see if they could pick any of them up and bring them in for questioning.
Watching the other man leave, he picked up his mobile and pressed the speed-dial.
As it was answered he said calmly
"You've got a problem. Someone has reported your boys."