The Paderborn Connection Read Online Free

Germany.”
    â€œMy problem,” said Mick “is that to confirm that the victim is Phillip Austen I will have to go to the military and request a photograph of him pending formal identification by his next of kin. Also, he has been murdered, possibly even by a serving officer who may or may not be British, I’m not sure about the procedure in such things. I don’t want to go in asking questions only to find that the Chief Constable has had a call from somebody at the MOD.”
    â€œQuite,” said D.C.S Bond “leave it with me but carry on with your other lines of enquiry. I’ll talk to my contacts at the press and ask them to give the story low priority, we don’t know what we are dealing with here. A Saturday night stabbing could be for any number of reasons.”
    â€œWith respect Ma’am I’ve told my team not to describe it as a stabbing,” and he described in detail how he was killed.
    â€œCharming, said D.C.S Bond. “Fair enough though, it’s always important to get people in the right mind-set.”
    When he returned to the incident room he was met by Matt Witherley,
    â€œI think I might have something on his car boss. PK Clamping rang back a few minutes ago. They clamped a silver Mondeo parked on the staff car park of Harrisons the accountants just around the corner from the Peking Palace. It’s a hire car. I’ve been on to the rental company and it was rented for one week from last Thursday by a P. Austen who paid by credit card – the same one that he used in the Peking Palace. The address he gave was c/o the Ivy Hotel, Cambridge. He picked the car up from Stansted Airport on the Thursday morning at ten forty, mileage reading was four thousand three hundred and thirty six.”
    â€œGet the car in to our compound for a thorough examination, Bob and I are off to Cambridge.”

    *
    They pulled into the car park of the Ivy Hotel, a four star hotel on the edge of town and went to reception. The cleaners had obviously just finished, the place smelt very strongly of polish. After showing their warrant cards and introducing themselves to the receptionist, she called for the manager who took them into his office.
    â€œWhat can I do for you gentlemen?”
    â€œYou have a guest staying here a Mr P Austen. Checked in last Thursday?”
    The manager turned to his computer and confirmed that was the case.
    â€œWe believe he booked a room some time in advance as he gave this as his address when hiring a car at Stansted.”
    â€œThat’s correct the booking was made on the Tuesday.”
    â€œWhat address did he give?”
    â€œA BFPO number, it was booked through an agent in Germany.”
    â€œDo you have the address of this agency?”
    â€œNo, not to hand, it’s done on the internet and we have taken bookings from them on numerous occasions without any problems What I can tell you is that they deal almost exclusively with large organisations rather than individuals as long as the credit card details as given are approved that’s all we really need.”
    â€œHas Mr Austen had any visitors?”
    â€œNot that I know about but then the bar and restaurant are public rooms, visitors wouldn’t have to sign in.”
    â€œHas he had any meals charged to his room?”
    Again the manager turned to his computer,
    â€œYes, on Thursday and Friday but nothing since.”
    â€œCan you tell if the meals were for one or more people?”
    â€œThursday and Friday he seems to have dined alone but no meals since then.”
    â€œNo there wouldn’t be,” said Mick “I’m afraid Mr Austen was found dead on Saturday night, that’s why we are here.”
    â€œGood God,” said the manager.
    â€œWe need to see his room and take away anything of relevance to our investigation.”
    â€œWhat about his Bill?” said the manager.
    â€œI’m sorry that’s not our concern,