CASH & CREDIT 7

The trail seemed to lead initially nowhere. The names on the cards were of people who didn’t seem to exist, their addresses bogus, their details false. Susan and the Chief were unfazed. They had expected no less, and it did, nevertheless, give them confirmation of how the system was being set up, through dummy accounts and addresses. As for Jimbo’s mobile phone, it was a stolen one, naturally, and most of the numbers called from it were equally dubious but untraceable.

The really interesting moment came when the phone suddenly rang. The Chief was surprised, but it didn’t stop him reacting. Raising his eyebrows conspiratorially, he looked at Susan with her mouth hanging open, picked up the phone and pressed a digit.

“Yeah?” he grunted, rather than spoke the word.

“Leo” said the voice on the other end, just as obscured and gruff.

“What’s the score?” the voice asked with anger and irritation.