The Sholes Key (An Evans & Blackwell Mystery #1) Read online

  “Long day?”

  Theo looked up. An older Indian man watched his movements from behind the counter.

  “Sorry?” Theo asked.

  “I asked if you’ve had a long day. You seem tired.” The man spoke with no accent at all. Born in London was Theo’s first thought.

  “I’ve been searching for a missing woman. I suppose you’ve heard.”

  “A missing woman? Do you have a picture of her?” the shopkeeper asked.

  “Has no one been in to talk with you?” Theo asked him. He wasn’t surprised. The shop was the opposite direction from where he’d sent his officers. “I have a picture in my car.”

  Leaving his items on the counter, he headed to his Jeep. The shopkeeper followed him, shutting the shop door behind him. While Theo searched for the folder with the photos, the man stood behind him and waited. Theo stuffed his hands between the front seats, crushing his fingers. Finally he felt the thin hard edge of the manila folder. He turned around quickly, almost knocking the man over.

  “Oh, sorry,” Theo said flustered, “I found it, the picture. I found it.” He took it from the folder and held it to his chest.

  “Can I see it?” the shopkeeper asked.

  Turning the picture around slowly, Theo watched the man’s face grow pale. “God, you know her?” he asked, partially excited, partially nervous and sick to his stomach. “When did you see her last? Did she come here, to your shop?”

  “Are you sure she’s missing?”

  “Yes.”

  “She has a son, did you know that? Is her son all right?”

  “Yes, he’s in the care of his grandmother.” Theo’s reply didn’t seem to console him.

  “Oh, well, I’m glad he’s safe.”

  “You’re sure you know this woman?”

  “Yes, she comes in regularly,” he said. “She came in…when was it? You see, the missus, my wife, she works the night shift. I take the day shift. Alia mentioned her coming in though. Oh, when was it?” He scratched his head. “Wednesday night. Well, actually Thursday, Thursday morning. Lorna usually comes in around two or three.”

  “Usually?” Theo asked. He leaned forward in interest. “It’s a habit of hers, coming to your shop that late at night?”

  “About once a week, I think. My wife, she really liked Lorna, looks forward to her coming in. The shop, you see, it can be a bit dreary to work in at night. The missus appreciates her regulars. She’s going to be devastated when she learns Lorna’s missing. Do you know what happened to her?”

  “Afraid not. Is your wife here, Mr…?”

  “Bhansalis. Mr. Bhansalis.”

  “Detective Inspector Blackwell.” Theo shook his hand. “Can I ask your wife some questions?”

  “She’s not here,” he said. “She’s gone to the surgery and won’t return for at least another half-hour. Alia has arthritis and her medications don’t seem to be working. She complains about it constantly.” He shook his head. “What that boy must be going through. I’ll get my wife to ring you when she returns. Do you have a card?”

  “Yes,” he said, handing him one. “Any information your wife could give us would be helpful.” Getting into his Jeep, Theo thanked him again and started to back out. Halfway down the street, he realized he forgot to purchase his milk and other items. He had left them on the counter.

  Theo drove around the street past Lorna’s house just as Nathan Peters came out of the building carrying her television. Theo stopped in the middle of the street and got out. “Oh no you don’t,” he yelled at him.

  “It’s not hers,” Nathan said, trying to keep hold of the heavy appliance.

  Theo placed his arm on top of it. “Then, to whom does it belong? Which flat? I plan to check Lorna’s. If her television is missing, guess what happens to you?”

  “All right, I’ll take it up.”

  Theo followed him back up the stairs. “I’ll also be confiscating the keys to her flat. No one, especially you, enters. Understood?” The door to Lorna’s flat was open. “Where’s her DVD player?” he asked, looking around. “And her microwave oven? They had better not be in the boot of your car. You’re in so much trouble.”

  “Look, money’s tight and she’s behind with her rent.”

  “You have exactly two minutes to bring back every item you stole from her. One second past, and I’m taking you in.”

  “Look—”

  “One, two, three…”

  An hour later, after ensuring the property owner had returned all Lorna’s belongings, Theo re-entered the corner shop. Mrs. Bhansalis stood beside her husband holding a tissue.

  “I just heard about Lorna. How horrible,” Mrs. Bhansalis said, speaking with just a slight accent. “Are you sure it’s Lorna missing?”

  “I’m afraid so,” Theo replied.

  Her husband put his arm around her shoulder. “What is this city coming to? Twice last year the shop was robbed in the daytime. Now Lorna? We’re the prisoners, trapped by our own fear while the criminals, they walk free, free to cause harm to innocent people.”

  “What time did you see her on Wednesday night or Thursday morning?”

  “She came in her usual time, around three. She bought milk, she always bought milk. Oh, and she purchased some medication. I believe she said her son was feeling ill. Oh, her son…” Her shoulders sank.

  “Mrs. Bhansalis, did Lorna seem worried or disturbed to you?”

  “No. In fact, she was happy. She was always happy. Normally she would stop in longer to talk but with her son sick…”

  “After she left the store, did she get into a car or did she walk towards home? Did you see her talk with anyone?”

  Mrs. Bhansalis thought quietly before she shook her head. “She walked towards home as usual.” She pointed in the direction of Lorna’s flat.

  “Thank you.” Theo re-collected the items he chose his first visit and paid for them. He headed toward the Jeep. After placing the bags into the car, he walked the pavement in Lorna’s footsteps. It told him nothing.

  Dejected by the events of the day, Theo dialed Dorland’s number hoping for moral support but it went straight to voicemail. This would change things, he thought. It makes it less likely that the boy’s father was involved and more likely she met someone on her way home that night. No, something happened on her route home. Maybe she didn’t want to walk carrying bags of groceries. Maybe she accepted a ride.

  From whom?

  Theo arrived home, exhausted. His hands gripped the steering wheel and he laid his forehead on them. A year and half ago, he would have described himself as self-assured if not cocky. Life seemed to be going his way; newly appointed inspector, liked by his friends, loved by his family, and that included his wife. Karma had caught up with him. He just couldn’t understand what he had done to deserve it.

  Silently he slipped his key into the lock and opened the door. Not quiet enough. His mother emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “There’s someone here to see you,” she said to him in Greek.

  “Who?”

  “She wouldn’t give her name.” His mother pointed to the sitting room door.

  When Theo walked in, it was dark except for a dimly lit table lamp. He reached to flip the switch, but a voice came from the corner behind him.

  “Please, leave it off.”

  A woman dressed in a dark overcoat and slightly brimmed cloche hat came forward into the light. She looked liked she had stepped out of the roaring twenties.

  “Who are you?” Theo asked, feeling his mouth run dry.

  She reached out a gloved hand and replied, “My name is Sophia Evans. I need to talk with you about Lorna McCauley.”

  “How do you know where I live?”

  Her eyes sparkled, and her skin was perfect.

  “I know more than I should about you, Mr. Blackwell. Or would you prefer I call you Inspector? Can we sit?”

  He motioned toward the pink flowered sofa and promptly sat. Everything she did intrigued him.
How she sat up straight, how she spoke in an audible whisper, how she looked him in the eyes. “What do you know about me?” he said.

  “I don’t think that’s the most important question right now, is it?”

  “No, of course not,” he replied. If not, what is?

  “I think you want to know about Lorna.” She squinted at him.

  “Right, you’re right, Lorna. What do you know about Lorna?” He examined her as she reached into her clutch and pulled out an envelope.

  “Mind you,” she said, “this is only a copy. I couldn’t get you the originals…not yet. As soon as my people finish with them, I will see that you receive them.”

  Your people? He took the envelope from her and opened it. The picture came first and the shock followed. “Is she—?”

  “We believe so.”

  “We? Listen, I have to know who you are with. Who are your people?”

  “I’m with the government.”

  “That doesn’t narrow it down for me.”

  “I work for the government.” She leaned her head forward as if putting an exclamation point on it.

  “You’re a spook.”

  Sophia grimaced. “I don’t like that word. And technically…no, but first I want to apologize about my friend’s behavior over the last couple of days. He took it upon himself to follow you and your partner. Inexcusable.”

  “That was your partner?”

  “Yes and no. Anyway,” she said as she put up her hand, “he wanted information and he doesn’t want to share. However, I feel you need to be looking in the right direction and to do that, you need all the facts. You don’t have all the facts.”

  Theo unfolded the second item in the envelope and looked over the numbers and letters. “What’s this?”

  “It’s code.”

  “I can see that. What does it mean?”

  “I don’t know yet.” She rubbed her eyes and sighed.

  “I haven’t even had a moment to sit down and crack it.”

  “What do you think it means? Did the killer write this? Where did you get it?”

  She sat back. “I should start from the beginning.”

  “Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”

  “I just don’t know where the beginning is.” She bit her lower lip and started talking, more to herself than him. “I really need to find the killer, and I need to find him before he… kills me. But, I have to do it without tipping my hand. I can’t decide who did this. There are just so many people that might be a threat. Until I know who it is for certain, I can’t take risks with the others.”

  Theo was about to ask about the others when his mother entered the room carrying a tray of tea. Sophia tipped her head down.

  “Who is she, Theo?” his mother asked in Greek. “Your wife is sitting in the other room and you bring a girl home with you. Shame on you. You can deny your marriage all you like, but you are still married. Tell her. Tell that woman you’re married.”

  “Mother,” he said sternly back to her in Greek. “Mother, this is work.”

  Sophia rose from the sofa. “If this is a bad time—”

  “No, it’s nothing.” Theo escorted his mother from the room. “Please, continue.” He motioned to the sofa again and both sat.

  “I hope I’m not causing problems.”

  “None. Please, go on.”

  “I’m really not a spy. I work for MI5 but as a cryptanalyst—basically, I solve codes. Within the last six months, I became involved in undercover work and, although I’m doubtful, many of those I work with believe I may have been compromised. It’s not just as simple as confronting the suspects and asking them, because we may lose six months work if we’re wrong. We need to know for certain who sent this.”

  “How do you know it involves you at all?”

  “Because the code and the picture were sent to my letterbox. Whoever killed Lorna knows where I live and that I crack codes.”

  “You believe the killer is sending you a message?”

  Sophia nodded.

  “What do you think he wrote here?” He held the paper up.

  Sophia stood and paced the room. “It could be numerous things. I believe it’s likely one of three things or a combination of all of them. One, it’s the killer explaining why he killed his victim. Two, it’s the location of his next victim. Or three, he’s giving us clues to his identity.”

  Theo sat back and thought. He had a million questions and decided to pick the most irrelevant. “Why bring this to me? You could’ve had someone drop this information off at the station or phone it in. Why this personal visit?”

  She laughed—a most beautiful laugh. “Why, selfishness, of course. A case is never as important until it involves us, is it? I want the people investigating running in the right direction, not shuffling along in the wrong. You won’t look for a killer if you believe Lorna may still be alive. Now you know.”

  “How do I confirm your story? How do I know you’re not the killer, and this is a game you’re playing?”

  This stopped her. She looked at him sharply. For a minute he imagined she’d rush at him in full fury and slit his throat, but she didn’t. She just stood there.

  “You can’t confirm, not without putting my life in jeopardy. Tomorrow when you’re out, ask the man following you. His name’s Liam. You’ll see him.”

  “How will he know where I’ll be?”

  “Most likely with these.” Sophia went to her handbag and rummaged around. She took out a small black box and revealed a minuscule listening device. “There are probably two in your Jeep, two in your partner Dorland’s car, numerous in Lorna’s flat, and probably by now there will be some in your office. They’ll know where you’ll be. Oh, and don’t bother trying to find these, they will only replace them.”

  “Have they bugged my house?”

  “They know enough about you to know you don’t discuss work here. Thus, here I am.” Sophia moved her hands down her body. “Besides it’s nearly impossible to get in your house undetected; someone’s always at home.”

  “All right, let’s assume you’re telling me the truth.” He wanted this to be the truth. “Do you have any footage of someone placing the envelope in your letterbox?”

  “Yes. I will make sure you receive it.” She took out an electronic gizmo and entered something in it. “Whoever killed Lorna did so after she left the shop early Thursday and before she arrived home. Chances are she knew her killer and went with him willingly. You may want to check her computer.”

  “She did not have a computer in her flat.”

  “She may have one at work. You plan to go there, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  Sophia reached into her clutch again. “This is a device you can plug into any one of a computer’s USB ports. When you log on, a box will pop up. Choose the accept option. It will download the contents of her hard disk.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “It’s very fast. Five minutes, give or take, depending on the size.”

  “What if her computer’s password protected?”

  Sophia took out a small card. “I’ve prepared this for you.”

  Theo looked the card over and shook his head. She had thought of everything. The woman in front of him was brilliant trouble, and this left him concerned.

  Chapter 10

  Theo and Dorland drove to Lorna’s place of work—a small architect firm in Wandsworth. The whole way over Theo couldn’t get the encounter with Sophia out of his mind. It was times like these that he missed his wife. He could talk about Sophia’s visit with her. The old Agneta would have teased him for being flustered around a beautiful woman. She would have listened and rubbed his shoulders while he complained whenever the case took a new turn. She would have been there.

  Now the only person he could talk to was Dorland, who acted like he had a brain the size of a chicken’s. “So did she have nice ones?” He cupped his hands to his chest.

  Theo rolled his eyes. “Don’t you
worry, her breasts will never compare to yours.”

  “Do you have a picture of her?”

  “Yeah, Dorland, I showed it to you. It’s in the file. Didn’t you see it?”

  “Not Lorna’s, the spook.”

  Theo turned on the radio. If his car was bugged, he didn’t want people listening to this. “Why would I have a picture of her? Forget about her. In fact, forget I told you about her. Understand?” Theo glanced at his partner. Dorland nodded while examining his face in the mirror of his sun visor. What on earth was wrong with him? Theo would like to blame Dorland for being a daft prick but ultimately, he should have just kept his mouth shut.

  “Forget your face, Dorland,” Theo snapped. “I want to know what you think about the code.”

  “There are a lot of numbers,” Dorland replied.

  “So, you’ve almost cracked it then,” Theo said sarcastically. “All right, smart arse, here’s what Sophia’s got figured out so far. There are no sevens and no eights anywhere in the code. Why? She doesn’t know. There are little stars and brackets everywhere. Is that significant? She doesn’t know that either. The number sequence 29065014495311 repeats and then seems to start again at the bottom. Meaning those numbers must be important or representative of something.”

  “Like what?”

  Theo shook his head. What did he know? He was confused. Tired and confused.

  “I wonder how she learned about numbers.”

  Dorland’s remark distracted Theo from his thoughts.

  “How would I know? She probably went to school. How on earth did you manage to become a detective?”

  Neither of them said anything more the rest of the way to the architect’s office. They arrived at a large, seven-story brick building, very plain and very old. Entering the lift, they headed up to the fifth floor. RFA Architects took up the entire level. When the doors opened, they entered a large office with the lift in the center of the room.

  The office had a beautiful open design and panoramic windows along the back wall which lit the room in a bright yellow glow. Large kidney-shaped design tables and flat computer desks were scattered about the room. There were no barriers, no walls. The white and red décor created an environment suited for creativity.