Go Out With A Bang! Read Free Page B

detectives.
    'Damned
unbelievable. Millions that place cost us. Now just
rubble.'
    Morris
sipped his coffee then asked, 'Your insurance company covering
it?'
    'Playing
their face. Saying we aren't covered by acts of terrorism. I told
them it was just a bunch of criminals trying to extort money from
us. Not terrorists. They say that it is still considered an act of
terrorism. They said that if they paid out on one situation like
this, all buildings underwritten by them would become easy
targets.'
    'That's
my understanding of it, too,' said Andersen. 'I doubt if you'll get
anywhere. It'll be pretty clear cut in your insurance
policy.'
    'That
won't stop me trying,' said Thorman. 'We have top legal people
working for our company. We'll set them loose on the buggers. No
doubt it will drag on for years. Any closer to finding out who did
it?'
    Morris
shook his head. 'We won't know anything until we get the bodies
out. Once we've identified the remains, we can put the case to bed.
There may be a mastermind who wasn't on the actual job. We'll do
our best to establish that and track him down.'
    Thorman
asked, 'Any idea when that will be? The information may be a factor
in any insurance claim.'
    Crowe
said, 'Because there are bodies in there, even though dead ones, it
isn't just a case of taking the rubble away. It will be a piece by
piece removal until the bodies have been recovered.'
    Thorman
sighed. 'I thought that would be the case.'
    Morris
asked, 'Mr Thorman. Do you know of any similar threats against your
company, either here or in any other country?'
    'Unfortunately, most companies get cranks targeting them with
extortion demands now and then. Just part of life. Petroxel has had
its fair share, but nothing on this scale before.'
    Morris
had expected that. 'It doesn't sound like it's anything personal
against the company. It's just money, not terrorists or people with
a grudge. Okay. We'll be off. Thanks for your time. As soon as we
get anywhere, we'll let you know.'
    'Can't
come soon enough. Thanks.'
    Back at
headquarters, Detective Inspector Andersen was waiting for them.
They told him what had been said at the meeting with
Thorman.
    Andersen
said, 'We can move on from that case for the time being. Not much
we can do until at least one body turns up. What I want to do now
is find out what the hell has happened to Ducket. We all know this
isn't like him at all to go off without some kind of reason. It's
the first time I've ever had to ask detectives to find a detective.
But this is from the Chief. This is priority. Find the
Ferret.'
     

Chapter 7
    Morris
and Crowe let themselves into Ducket's office, using the code given
by the Chief. The lifeless equipment gave the huge room the feel of
a modern day museum. It was the prototype for the technological
future of the country's detective force. The very best available
systems were put in place and further enhanced by
Ducket.
    'Any
idea what the hell this thing is?' Crowe asked.
    'I
wouldn't have a clue. Stop messing with it.'
    'It
looks like dinosaurs like us have an expiry date.'
    'Speak
for yourself,' Morris said. 'I think we should work it like just a
missing person case and not like a mate gone missing. I'd still
like to try to see if we can get into his computer.'
    Crowe
said, 'I doubt if Bill Gates could get in there. Ferret was
training likely prospects to head up similar departments in other
headquarters. I suggest we drag one of those in.'
    Morris
agreed. 'The Chief will know who they are. We can pull in a couple
of them. I'll organise that, you check the drawers and filing
cabinet.'
    The
Chief considered Morris's suggestion.'He won't like it.'
    'I'm
open to alternative ideas,' said Morris. 'We need something to work
with and it seems logical that Ducket might have something on his
computer to put us on the right track.'
    'But you
need an expert to help out.'
    'On the
Ferret's computer, yes. He hand selected the ones to train up.
People who have had some detective