Free Deadline for Murder by Val McDermid

Polaroid camera in there, and I suspect he takes pictures of the boys he brings back here. They'd be dynamite in the wrong hands. A blackmailer or a journalist could really have a field day with them. But what really worries me is the HIV test results."
    "My God, he's not got AIDS, has he?" Helen asked. "Poor bastard. Even creepy Harry Campbell doesn't deserve that!"
    Rosalind ran a hand through her tousled white hair and shook her head. "I don't know. I've been nagging him about having the test for ages. He's been with so many rent boys over the last few years, I've been scared stiff he'd be HIV positive. I thought he should find out, if only so he wouldn't infect anyone else. He's always resisted me, but a couple of months ago, he finally gave in and went for counselling and had the test. I know he went back for an appointment last week and he told me they'd given him the all-clear. But if there's anything in writing--appointment cards or a letter saying he's not HIV positive, then the only place I can imagine it would be would be that drawer. He thought he was safe here." Rosalind's eyes quivered with tears. She was suffering a delayed reaction to the shock of the burglary, Lindsay realised.
    "How can I help?" she asked gently.
    Rosalind pulled herself together with difficulty. "I wanted to ask whether you thought I should tell the police," she said. "And I wondered if you'd seen anybody hanging around when you were here."
    "I didn't notice anything," Lindsay said. "But when did it actually happen?"
    "About four o'clock."
    Lindsay shook her head. "It must have been just after I left," she said. "But as far as the police are concerned, I would be inclined to say nothing about photographs or blood tests. The police are a leaky sieve. Too many coppers are too pally with journalists for something like that to stay under wraps. Unless Harry is prepared to let the cat out of the bag, you'd better keep that stuff to yourself. They'll be pulling out all the stops to get your stuff back, and if they catch the guys who did it, they'll get their hands on the other stuff too. Then you'll get it all back with no one any the wiser. Hopefully." She could already picture the headlines. The combination of AIDS, porno pictures and an MP would have the press pack on the doorstep faster than a major earthquake. To the tabloids, an all-clear result would be just as damning as a positive one. The fact of Harry having taken the test would be an admission of guilt in itself.
    Rosalind nodded, but looked far from optimistic. "You're right. But I needed someone else's viewpoint before I could bring myself to make the decision. Harry would never survive a scandal."
    Before she could say more, the door opened, and two men walked into the room. The taller of the two, a balding man in his thirties whose shoulders looked one size too big for his sports jacket, said, "Which one of you ladies is Rosalind Campbell?"
    Rosalind got to her feet and said, "I am. And you are?"
    "Inspector Ainslie. Special Branch. I'll have to ask you two ladies to leave while we talk to Miss Campbell. I'm afraid we'll have to get the place fingerprinted too. If you ladies would be good enough to leave your names and addresses with the constable, then we can get your prints later if we need them for elimination," he said authoritatively.
    Lindsay and Helen picked up their coats and prepared to leave. "I'll drop you back at Sophie's, Lindsay. Give me a ring when the boys in blue are finished, Ros. I'll come round and help you clear up," said Helen on the way out.
    They travelled down in the lift in silence. As they emerged into the car park again, Lindsay turned to look back at the block of flats, twinkling with lights in the early evening darkness. "Not exactly a safe place to live, is it?" she said softly. "First Alison, now this."

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6

    Lindsay put her foot down hard on the accelerator as the motorway approach road suddenly turned into the fast lane. No matter how often she