This might be worth a look? I see Patterson’s got what was coming to him. Have you read the thing on Strike? X
Strike would have been delighted to know that Robin’s immediate reaction to this message was annoyance at her boyfriend and protectiveness of her detective partner. Murphy had suffered himself from bad press of late and he hadn’t even been personally named, so Robin would have hoped he’d show some fellow feeling for another man being roughed up in print. Instead of answering the message, or opening the link to what appeared to be another terraced house, this time in Wood Green, Robin opened the second text, which was from Strike himself.
Two-Times just called. He’s about to join his missus and her friend for cocktails. You can stand down, he’ll be with her for the rest of the day.
Robin had just raised her hand for her bill when her mobile rang from an unfamiliar number, though she recognised the Ironbridge area code. She answered at once.
‘Hello, this is Robin Ellacott.’
‘Hello,’ said a tentative voice far too young to be Tyler Powell’s grandmother. ‘Are you the one who’s been calling my great-aunt?’
‘If your great-aunt’s Dilys Powell, yes,’ said Robin.
‘Well, she’s in the hospital,’ said the girl.
‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. You picked up my messages, did you?’
‘Yes,’ said the girl. ‘I’m feeding her cat. Why do you want her?’
‘I wanted to talk to her about your cousin Tyler,’ said Robin.
‘He’s not here,’ said the girl. ‘He left.’
‘Yes, I know,’ said Robin. ‘Have you heard from him lately?’
Robin could hear the scratching of a pen, and surmised that the girl was either doodling or taking a note.
‘I don’t like him,’ the girl said finally. ‘We don’t talk.’
‘Well, would you mind telling your great-aunt I’ve called, and asking her to get in touch when she feels better?’ said Robin.
‘All right,’ said the girl.
‘Thank you very much,’ said Robin. ‘Can I ask your n—?’
But the girl had already hung up.
Ten minutes later the paunchy Two-Times entered the bar wearing a much-creased suit, smiling broadly at his wife and her friend. Robin gathered up her bag and coat and left, making sure not to make eye contact with Two-Times, who had a tendency to smirk whenever he spotted one of the detectives he’d paid to spy on whichever woman he was currently sleeping with.
In the lobby of the hotel, Robin paused beside a large Christmas tree surrounded by silver models of fawns. On her way here, she’d registered her proximity to the London Silver Vaults. She took out her mobile, and called Strike.
‘Hi. Listen, I’m five minutes’ walk away from Bullen & Co. What d’you think of me trying to interview Pamela Bullen-Driscoll?’
‘I think you’ll be very lucky to get her to talk.’
‘Even so,’ said Robin, now heading out onto the street, ‘she’s a key witness and pressure’s always easier to apply face to face.’
‘S’pose it’s worth a try,’ said Strike, who assumed from Robin’s friendly tone that she hadn’t seen the online hatchet job on him. ‘Maybe she’ll be more amenable to a woman. I’m heading to Ipswich in an hour or so, by the way.’
‘Why?’
‘One of Plug’s Ipswich mates has done a two-year stretch for embezzlement. Kim found out. Thought I’d go and have a nose around for what he might be getting up to these days that involves Plug, a lot of cash and a ledger.’
‘OK,’ said Robin, ‘Well, I’ll let you know how I get on with Pamela. You might be hearing back from me in ten minutes.’
She hung up, checked the route on her phone, then headed off along High Holborn, turned into Chancery Lane and finally entered Southampton Buildings.
24
Albert Pike
The Silver Vaults’ entrance was a discreet wooden door with a small glass awning. Robin was admitted after pressing a buzzer and found herself facing a uniformed security man, who asked to search her bag. She then had to sign in at the desk, and was instructed to descend three flights of stairs, and take no photographs outside the individual shops.
Intrigued, Robin proceeded down broad, bare stone stairs, her footsteps echoing, and found herself in a space unlike any she’d seen before.