Fatal Connection Read Online Free Page B

There’s a sports centre down the roadtowards Loose End. No swimming pool, but it’s got a gym, climbing centre, running track and a velodrome for cycling. That might have attracted Miley Quist.’
    ‘What about Keaton Hathaway?’
    ‘Last night I checked every single scan of his notebooks – and copied the lot into our life-loggers. There’s no mention of Loose End or Tight End.’
    ‘Maybe there was on the bits that got torn out. Let’s go take a look.’

SCENE 9
    Wednesday 7th May, Afternoon
    It was difficult to imagine that, ten days ago, Tight End had enjoyed a summery weekend. As Troy and Lexi emerged from their car, a fierce wind blew rain almost horizontally across the town. The young detectives leaned into the gale and dashed to the fish breeding centre. They slammed the door, shutting out the raging storm. Inside, the reception was calm and warm. An oasis. Brightly coloured tropical fish flashed inside rows of tanks. Air bubbling through the water made a soothing gurgle and the lights of the aquaria shimmered attractively.
    Lexi and Troy shook the raindrops from their coats while they waited to see a supervisor. Fascinated by the hypnotic movement of the fish, Lexi said, ‘I’ve always fancied being a scuba diver. Swimming with fish, especially sharks. They’re powerful, sleek and charismatic.’
    The supervisor entered the reception and, overhearing her, said with a smile, ‘We don’t keep them, I’m afraid. We only supply fish that are quite a bit smaller.’
    Once he had introduced himself, he sat down with two fish tanks behind him at shoulder-height. The detectives took seats opposite him. Troy angled for answers and Lexi gazed at fish.
    Showing an image of Alyssa Bending on his life-logger, Troy said, ‘Have you had a visit from her recently?’
    ‘From the rather nicely named Pullover Creek Garden Centre, as I recall.’
    ‘When was she here?’
    The supervisor consulted his small laptop. ‘Friday the twenty-fifth. April, that is.’
    ‘Did she seem okay to you? I mean, she didn’t look ill or anything?’
    ‘Quite the opposite. She looked very happy.’
    ‘And she didn’t have any accidents while she was here?’
    ‘No. Nothing like that.’
    ‘Did she say where she was going next?’
    The supervisor took a breath as he thought about it. ‘I don’t think so. I didn’t ask. It was all very business-like.’
    ‘Do you use mercury-containing pesticides?’
    Shocked at the suggestion, he said, ‘Absolutely not. Read the small print on almost any pesticide. Harmful to aquatic organisms. Keep away from fish. Causes long-term damage to aquatic environments. That sort of thing. So, no, we don’t allow any in the building at all. On pain of death.’ He hesitated for an instant. ‘That’s a joke, by the way.’
    Showing the photographs of the other three victims, Troy asked, ‘Have any of these people ever dropped in?’ He recited their names.
    ‘No.’
    ‘Did you do a deal with Alyssa?’
    ‘She was impressed with our quality. Anyone would be. She ordered some chevron tang, mandarin fish and quite a few tetras. With options for others later.’
    ‘And that was it? Nothing unusual to tell me?’
    ‘No. Oh, you asked about where she was going. I left her here in reception but I remember she went up to the desk …’ He turned and called out to thereceptionist, ‘That rep from Pullover Creek Garden Centre. Did I hear her ask you for directions?’
    ‘Erm. I believe she did, yes.’
    ‘Where to?’ Troy asked.
    ‘It was … er … a restaurant.’
    ‘Any particular one?’
    The receptionist paused, his fingers fiddling with a small gold badge on his lapel. ‘I think it was the Doom Merchant. That’s where most people go around here.’
    ‘Weird name,’ Troy said with a frown.
    The supervisor smiled wryly. ‘Someone’s idea of wit. It stands for Dining Outers Or Majors.’
    Troy faced Lexi and said, ‘Fancy a bite to eat?’
     
    The Doom Merchant was huge. It had one