'So all you've got to connect him with Adams,' said Porson, 'is the two phone calls on the day. And nothing to connect him or Adams with the Vance case.' Slider recognised this for a rhetorical question and said nothing. 'You've got the square root of sod all, pardon my French. They'll have my testimonials on a plate if I go upstairs with that.' 'I'd really like to bring in his computer,' Slider said. 'Can't do that,' said Porson, chomping his last custard cream and spraying crumbs. 'Not without more to go on.' He fielded their protesting looks. 'Oh, it's a mystery all right What it's not is a case.' 'So - we pull it?' Slider said. Over the years he had learned, like a good dog, to read his master's body language and recognise his tones of voice, so he knew the answer would not be a flat 'yes'. 'I don't like it,' Porson said. 'Something stinks, and it's not just one dead sprat. You can stay on it, as long as you get your other work done. But you'll have to be quick, get me something solid. What are you following up?' 'Fathom's looking for a camera that might have caught Kaylee being picked up on Saturday night. We're waiting for Stephanopolos's phone records. I want to look into this trust he was working for and have a sniff around his office. We're monitoring Shannon's phone - a sixteen year old can't go for long without using it.' 'Is that it?' Porson said, wounded. 'And, of course, something might be forthcoming from Harefield about the motor,' Slider added unhappily. 'Forthcoming? You'll need the second coming to get you out of this. Well,' he stood up, apparently done with punishing them, 'do what you can.' He swilled back the last of his tea, and gave them a final, sharp look to share between them. 'It's all cisterns go on this one, because by the end of the week you've got to show up, or shut up.' Excerpted from One Under by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
