High rise mystery, page 13
‘Shouldn’t the police have those keys? Wasn’t Officer Burnett supposed to be setting up the Investigation Room?’
‘Absolutely.’
She shut the door.
‘I’ve been marking the timelines and waiting for my moment. That moment is now.’
She locked the door behind her.
We took the lift down to the lobby.
Norva tried the door to Pap’s office. It was unlocked. The door swung open.
‘Katie, Katie, Katie,’ Norva said. ‘Really? Even worse than I thought. Unless…’
‘Unless what?’
‘Unless she’s intentionally being sloppy to help us out, leave loopholes for us to jump through?’
We looked at each other.
‘Nah,’ we said in unison.
Norva stepped back-first into the room.
‘Ta da!’ she said, smiling. ‘I need your skills now, so get yourself behind his desk.’
I looked cautiously around the lobby and stepped in. The Murder Investigation Room – in its former guise as Pap’s office, anyway – was probably my favourite place on The Tri.
Between the ages of five and ten, I used to pretend it was mission control and I could send the people of The Tri to space. His office contained:
• Ten CCTV screens
• Two desks
• Two old PCs
• Two chairs
Pap used to have a full-time assistant. A nice lady. Pamela Costner. Portuguese. Pretty. Plump. When she died, the council didn’t replace her. Pap was on his own.
The police had taken their laptops, but left their photographs pinned to the wall. I acutely avoided looking at the image of Hugo’s arm.
Instead I looked towards the corner of the room, where the cage-cabinet sat. It was locked. Nine 20 litre cans of paint stacked on top of each other.
I was so sick of that paint. I hated it.
I sat down.
‘You ready for this, Nik?’
‘Ready for what?’
‘I need you to hack the mainframe.’
I looked at her quizzically. ‘Hack the mainframe…?’
‘You know, get in there,’ she pointed at Pap’s computer.
‘You mean log in?’
‘Sure, whatever – just open it up. Need intel. Get on it.’
I shook the mouse and the computer awoke; the dialogue box appeared on-screen. Pap’s username was there, JA-02, but the password box remained empty.
I had no idea what it could be.
‘Norva, I’m going to suggest some passwords, write them down so I don’t retry them and waste time.’
‘OK, ready. And Go!’
1111: The dialogue box shook.
JosephAlexander: The dialogue box shook.
NikNorva1113: The dialogue box shook.
‘Awww, I’m sad that wasn’t it,’ said Norva.
JoeNorvNik1: The dialogue box shook.
‘Look around the room,’ I said. ‘There might be a clue. If I try too many times, I’ll lock it. I’m hoping it offers me a hint.’
Norva looked around the room, and at Pap’s desk.
‘What about Corner1222?’ she suggested.
I tried it. The dialogue box shook.
‘Hint?’ appeared on the computer. Finally.
‘Norva, we have a hint!’ I clicked it.
Hint: FamMotto
‘Oh my god, how basic can you get Pap? This is online Safety 101,’ Norva said, rolling her eyes.
I typed alexandersassemble into the box and we were in.
Pap’s computer opened up on his emails. A plethora.
‘Goldmine!’ whispered Norva, as she stood in the doorway.
At the top of the list, most recently received was an email from a Daniel Bartlett at the council.
Date: Tue 25/07 12:32
Subject: Apologies
Mr Alexander,
On behalf of the council today, I would like to extend an apology for the behaviour of Donald DeVos. His outburst and accusation does not reflect the views of the council, nor do we base our beliefs on reports on Cloud Nine news.
When the tragic matter at The Triangle is resolved, we will reschedule our hearing.
Best regards,
Daniel Bartlett, Head of Estates
‘Donald DeVos sounds like a dork,’ Norva said.
I nodded. ‘But what was this hearing? What’s Pap done?’
I looked at other emails from Daniel Bartlett.
Date: Fri 20/07 11:07
Subject: Hearing date
Mr Alexander,
Regarding the accusation(s) against you of misconduct due to unfair and unreasonable scheduling of repairs at The Triangle, and your formal warning, the council would like to invite you to a hearing with myself, Donald DeVos, Director of Estates, and Betsy Muller, Head of HR.
Please confirm your availability for Tuesday 25 July at 10:00. I do hope this time works; it is directly after First Aid training, which you are required to attend.
Best regards,
Daniel Bartlett, Head of Estates
I took a photo of the screen.
Printing was for old, patient people who enjoy noise and heartbreak.
‘Pap was under investigation, Norva,’ I said. ‘The meeting with them was today. I’m going to look at other emails from Friday.’
I scrolled down the list.
An email thread between Mrs K and Pap. She was demanding repairs to her flat.
Pap had replied.
Date: Fri 20/07 13:08
Subject: Re: Repairs, when?
Thank you, again, for the many pierogis Mrs K, but I really cannot push you any further up the maintenance list. Not this time. I will discuss this with you this evening, following the meeting.
Joe.
I read the email to Norva.
‘So, Pap was too scared to tell the whole truth to the police, because he was under investigation at work?’ said Norva. ‘Under investigation? For helping people? What are the council on?’
‘Well, there are systems and waiting lists, Norva,’ I said. ‘You can’t just flaunt the rules. But yes, it seems like an overreaction on their part. He was afraid of being fired, I suppose. He might have thought – probably rightly – that we’d have to move out too.’
‘Good point,’ said Norva. ‘But murder is like a million times worse than painting an old lady’s flat – why hasn’t Kowalski just come clean?’
‘I don’t know.’ I shrugged. It was very odd.
I took a photo of the screen.
There were other emails from Friday afternoon. From Jane. A long chain of emails. Back and forth. All day.
I clicked the first one.
Date: Fri 20/07 15:42
Subject: Re:re:re:re:re later
Hahahahaha! Yes, well, we have the same sized feet. That’s a sign, love. Can’t wait to get this meeting done and see you tonight. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
‘Gross! Delete! Un-see, undo, unsubscribe!’ said Norva, clutching at her chest.
‘It’s not nice, but it’s confirmation on their ‘situation’,’ I said. ‘And the shoes – same sized feet? She’s using his shoes, but why? What’s she doing?’
‘She should buy her own shoes.’ Norva kissed her teeth.
I took a photo of the screen.
There were other emails. Noise complaints. Lift out of order note for Corner Two. An unpaid bill notification. I scrolled forward, forward until I found what we were really looking for.
‘Found it, Norv’ I said. I clicked the chain open.
Date: Fri 20/07 23:05
Subject: Apology
Joseph,
Tonight was heated. I apologise for the way I behaved. You and I are passionate people. I hope we can put this behind us and move forward as friends and as a community.
HK-W
Date: Sat 21/07 00:31
Subject: Re: Apology
Hugo – it’s me who needs to apologise. It was heated and I was rude. We’ll make this work! I’ll make the flat look great in the morning. If I don’t see you, enjoy the market. Joe.
‘So they had made up!’ Norva shouted. ‘This is amazing! We out here cracking this case like pistachios.’
‘It narrows the time of death window, from ten thirty to eleven-o-five,’ I replied.
I looked at the computer.
‘It’s brilliant, but we need more. Say Pap was the murderer – he could have faked these emails. Somehow.’
Norva was silent.
‘You’re right, why you gotta pee on my chips like this?’
‘I’m being…’
‘Thorough. Yes I know,’ she said glumly.
I took a photo of the screen.
42
I stood up.
‘Erm, where you going?’ Norva said from the doorway. ‘You need to get into the CCTV. Access, please.’
I sat back down at the desk, not really knowing where to look. I clicked onto the council server. Achingly slow. The folders appeared one by one, by date last opened.
Invoices
Incidents
Accidents
Cameras
That last one was worth a try. Surely. Inside the folder sat subfolders for each Corner. Inside of those folders were video files for each camera for each day for the last seven days.
There were four folders for each camera in Corner one.
• The lift by the lobby
• Chute on First Avenue
• Chute on Second Avenue
• Chute on Third Avenue – where George, Hugo
and Serena, and Jane live.
I was quietly impressed by the system and structure. I was unimpressed by the number of cameras.
‘I actually found the files, Norva!’ I exclaimed. ‘We might actually be able to find something here.’
‘Yeah, I know – why do you think I was stunting for the cameras?’ she asked. ‘I was assisting Future You with your hacking.’
‘Where shall we start?
‘Find the files for the lift. Start today, to see if it worked. We were at the lift around three this afternoon, right?’
‘I’m not sure the files for today will be there yet,’ I said, ‘but let’s have a look.’
I found a folder called C1_Lift. That folder contained files for the last five days. I clicked on the folder marked today and the most recent file at the top.
C1_Lift_2507_6
It opened to a black and white, frankly fuzzy video. But it was clearly Corner One. Clearly the lift.
Along the bottom, as if to prove itself, it read ‘C1 Lift’ and showed the time. 15:00.
The video had a total duration of three hours.
‘Yes!’ I turned to Norva. ‘Seems like the video is automatically uploaded to this server every eight hours.’
I turned to the computer with a smile. ‘This system is pretty decent,’ I said impressed.
C1_Lift_2507_6 15:00
The Police and Katie appear.
I scrubbed through the video.
C1_Lift_2507_6 15:05
Norva and I appear. I watched myself call the the lift.
The lift opens and Norva looks directly at the camera, at us. She sticks her tongue out, twists her braids. I look annoyed.
‘Ha, yas! There I am. We know this was today. Friday night files, please.’
‘OK!’ I shouted, ‘I can do this!’
Norva smiled at me. ‘I know you can.’
I clicked back through the folders to Friday. The most recent file at the top.
C1_Lift_2007_8
The time read 21:00.
I scrubbed through until 22:25. People poke the lift button. They throw their hands up and walk away.
‘That’s right, the lift was broken,’ I muttered under my breath. ‘And not fixed until Monday morning,’ added Norva.
C1_Lift_2007_8 22:32
Pap arrives at the lift. He jabs furiously at the button, looks up and down at its doors. He kicks at them. He turns around.
Jane arrives. She puts a hand on his shoulder and tries to hold his hand.
‘Leave it out, Jane!’ Norva shouted.
They wait. They have a conversation. It’s heated. Arms flailing. Gesticulations.
Pap heads towards the staircase. Jane walks towards The Hub.
C1_Lift_2007_8 22:35
Hugo and Serena wait by the lift. Hugo is unsteady. He stumbles.
‘He looks rough,’ Norva said.
‘Heatstroke?’ I reply.
Hugo leans against the wall. He is waving his arms around, animatedly. Serena puts her arm around him and gently touches his curls.
Barry walks to the lift, points to it.
Hugo and Serena walk to the staircase. Barry walks towards The Hub.
I rewound the videos quickly and filmed them on my phone.
‘OK, time to switch it up,’ Norva said. ‘Corner One, Third Avenue, Friday night. I want to see if Hugo made it home.’
C1_3AVE_2007_8
I scrubbed through the file until 22:50. The camera was positioned at the middle of the Avenue, pointing at the Chute.
C1_3AVE_2007_8 22:50
The doorway to the stairwell opens. Serena emerges first. She’s holding Hugo’s hand. He leans over the Avenue, next to the Chute. They look down, over The Tri. Her hand on his back.
‘He’s catching his breath,’ I said.
‘I’m not surprised,’ said Norva. ‘Walking 20 flights of stairs when you feel off is not the one.’
Hugo and Serena disappear off camera.
‘Alright,’ said Norva. ‘Saturday morning from twelve fifteen. Let’s see it.’
I held my breath.
C1_3AVE_2107_1
I started the video at 00:10. Just in case.
No movement. I scrubbed through to 00:15. The back of someone appears.
‘Norva look!’
C1_3AVE_2007_8 00:15
A person wearing black is dragging a very large Tri bag behind them. They open the chute, squat down, slowly lift the bag and push it into the chute.
They disappear down the stairs.
‘Oh my god, who is that? That must be Hugo in the bag!’ Norva said.
I rewound the video and filmed the screen. The CCTV played on.
‘I think this is it,’ I said to Norva. I turned to her. ‘I think we’ve got it.’
She stared at the screen.
‘What do we do now?’ I asked.
‘You got the footage, right. Let’s bounce and look at it in more detail.’
I looked back at the screen. 00:17
‘Norva, wait! There’s someone else!’
I scrubbed back. Phone ready to record.
C1_3AVE_2007_8 22:17
A person wearing black stands at the chute. They’re holding a very large Tri bag in one hand and Tri paint can in the other. They open the chute.
The person throws the paint can into the chute. They squat down and lift the bag into the chute. They walk up the avenue, towards the flats. They change their mind and turn around, disappearing down the stairs.
I sat back in the chair. Confused.
‘Hugo’s in one of those bags Nik, but which one?’ Norva said. ‘And Pap is one of those people, but which one? Nobody’s limping?’
The lift doors opened in the lobby.
‘Holy moly, someone’s coming!’ Norva hissed. ‘Oh my god, oh my god! Quick! Move!’
I immediately froze on the spot.
‘That’s the opposite of moving!’ Norva shouted.
I reached over and turned the PC off without shutting it down, silently begging for mercy from the computer gods for my sin. I patted myself down, checking I had my phone and the lid. I did.
I leapt out of the room as Officer Burnett walked in. I stood panting at the door.
‘What the hell’s going on here? What’s not moving?’ His voice rose, ‘Why are you in the Investigation Room? This is a crime!’ He shouted. ‘You are trespassing!’
He reached for his radio.
‘Officer Smyth, come in. Over,’ he shouted to his handset. ‘Officer Smyth, you’ve compromised the Investigation Room. Your pets are in here. Over.’
The handset buzzed, but no reply.
‘Officer, officer, officer,’ Norva said. ‘We didn’t realise this was your – what did you say? – Investigation Room? This is just our dad’s office!’
‘Girlie,’ Officer Burnett said slowly. ‘Don’t play with me. I know you’re not stupid. Look at the walls.’
I couldn’t look at them again. I didn’t want to see.
‘Ah, I see. I’m sorry,’ Norva said, looking around the room. ‘It’s a really great spot for a room like this,’ she said, her words Splenda sweet. ‘Why did you choose it? You set it up on Monday – when Katie, I mean, Officer Smyth – arrived. Didn’t you? Right, Nik?’
She spun around to face me.
I nodded.
Officer Burnett shifted on the spot.
‘It made sense at the time.’
‘Made sense? An investigation room with sensitive information, in a place where many people – potential suspects included – walk past? Regularly? I suppose so.’
‘Well, DCI Sharp signed it off so…’
‘Made sense in a room that has multiple sets of keys?’
He looked at the floor.
‘I didn’t know you had access! I assumed I secured all the keys. I accounted for them all with, with...’ His voice trailed away.
‘With the caretaker, your prime suspect, our dad?’ asked Norva. ‘Ah, this is a bit of a pickle isn’t it? My fault! I should have just known to give them to you. Somehow. Obviously,’ Norva said. ‘Yes, as soon as DCI Sharp returns, I’ll apologise to her, personally, and let her know about my mistake. My lack of oversight.’
Norva smiled at him.
‘No, no,’ he protested. ‘You don’t have to do that,’ he coughed. ‘No need, no need...’
Officer Burnett’s radio crackled into life.
