Reckoning Point, стр. 13
There are also people – do-gooders in Erik’s opinion – who wish to see Amsterdam and her neighbouring areas sanitised and not seen the world over for what it actually is. They are the people that Erik and his team need to appease, and, the thought strikes him suddenly, the ones that need to be looked at also. He scribbles a note in his book, scrawls ‘CCTV’ next to it and looks up at Dennis.
“I’ll need to speak to Gabi’s friends, and flatmates, if she had any.”
Dennis nods, a small smile which Erik takes as approval on his face, and Erik leans back, relaxing a little for the first time since Dennis approached him in the office this morning.
This is his first big case, he mustn’t miss anything and he vows to himself that he’ll get this one wrapped up before it turns into anything else.
He will prove himself worthy of his previous stripes and his current crown, and, if he does very well, perhaps he can add another insignia to his sleeve at the same time.
12
ALEX
GREAT TITCHFIELD STREET, LONDON
4.7.15 Mid-morning
The morning after his one-man drinking session finds Alex back at Elian’s flat. This time he is sober and clear-headed. He’s a man with a plan, and part of that new found scheme is heading up the road towards him now.
“Bruv, banging garms.” The man who Alex is paying to help him gain access to Elian’s flat is upon him, all tight jeans high gelled dyed-black hair, smiling as he plucks at Alex’s T-shirt.
“Good to see you, Noah,” greets Alex, not even pretending to understand the phrase that his young friend addressed him with.
“What do you want me for then, blud?” Noah shifts around the pavement, eyes everywhere.
“I need to get in that flat, third floor, the one with all the windows closed,” replies Alex. “We need to wait until someone comes out of the main door then we’re in the building, and you need to get us inside the flat and you need to be quick.”
Noah smoothes his hair back, his hand hardly touching the follicles as he gazes at the building opposite. “You going t’ merk some breh in there?”
Alex opens his mouth and closes it again. “I don’t even know what that means, Noah.”
Noah makes some weird movement with his fist, touching it lightly to Alex’s face and lets off a peel of laughter. “You’re so old, dude! I mean, have you got some beef with someone in there?”
“No, I just need you to get me inside. That’s all you need to know and that’s all I’m paying you for. And if you can speak English while we’re working together I’d really appreciate it.”
“Yeah, whatever, I’ll have my P now.” Noah breathes out dramatically as Alex side-eyes him again. “Pounds, I’ll have my money.”
“Once we’re inside and you’ve done the job.”
Noah sucks on his teeth, emits a hiss and elbows Alex in his ribs. “I can get in without waiting for someone to come out.”
Alex studies the young man. He believes Noah’s claim. He first met the young man when he was helping out a case for the MET and after spending time with Noah they forged an unlikely friendship. Noah had done some small time for his part in a robbery, and Alex had seen his potential and once he was out he had put him on the agency books, hoping that with paid employment and something akin to mentorship on Alex’s part, Noah might just manage to escape seeing the inside of a prison cell. So far, it had worked out.
“Can you do it without making a scene?”
“Safe man, you know it,” Noah says as he looks left and right. “Come on.”
Inwardly groaning Alex has no option but to follow Noah across the road to Elian’s building. Standing in front of the blue double door Alex does his best to conceal what Noah is doing.
“If you hear anyone inside, leave it and–” Alex breaks off as he hears the door creak open and he turns around. “You’re in?”
“Piff, you know it.” Noah grins, showing sharp, white teeth as he slips inside.
Alex follows, neither of them making any noise to announce their presence as they climb the three flights of stairs to the third floor and arrive at Elian’s door.
“Quiet on this one,” Alex whispers as they survey the locks that adorn the front door of the flat.
Noah, suddenly serious, nods and crouches down on the mat outside in the hallway. Alex watches as his young friend withdraws a selection of what appear to be skeleton keys from his back pocket and goes to work on the five separate keyholes.
With each locks that slips almost noiselessly open Alex lets out his breath a little. Within minutes Noah is on the fifth and final lock and Alex has relaxed completely when, without warning, the door next to the one they are working on flies open and Elian’s elderly neighbour looks out at them. Noah stands up, hiding his tools behind his back and glancing from the woman to Alex, all his East London bluff and bluster gone.
“It’s all right, I’m a detective,” Alex says as smoothly as he can manage and shows her his S.I.A licence, hoping that she firstly mistakes him for a police accredited detective and doesn’t have any knowledge of the world of investigators.
“I know who you are.” She peers at him, her wrinkled old face betraying her stern tone of voice. “You’re her beau, I know what goes on here, and I know that Elian left home weeks ago.”
“Your girl lives here?” Noah’s disbelieving tone causes the old woman