Free The Body in the Boot: The first 'Mac' Maguire mystery by Patrick C. Walsh Page A

case.
    ‘Have you heard of anything new on the streets that might cause such symptoms?’
    She shook her head.
    ‘No, most drugs are supposed to give you energy, make you feel more awake or more horny not put you to sleep. However I’ll ask around, if anything comes up I’ll let you know. If you do find that there’s something new out there make sure you keep me in the loop.’
    She glanced over at Tommy.
    ‘Anyway how come you’re working with CID, I thought you’d retired?’
    ‘I have retired, just helping them out that’s all and they’ve been kind enough to let me.’
    She looked at her watch.
    ‘I have to go but take care of yourself, Mac.’ She gave him a card. ‘Ring me when you have an evening free, I’d love to catch up, and bring Bridget too. You’ll definitely do that now?’
    ‘I will,’ Mac promised.
    They hugged again and Katherine left.
    ‘You know some high up people,’ Tommy said ‘but I suppose you were one yourself not long ago.’
    ‘Yes, not too long ago. Anyway I think we’ve done all we can for the moment.’
    As they walked back towards the car Tommy’s phone rang.
    He listened for a few seconds and then said, ‘We’ll be right there.’
    He then turned to Mac and said, ‘That was Dan Carter, he needs us back in Luton. It looks like we might have a lead.’
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    It was just after four o’clock when they arrived back in Luton after being caught in traffic. Even with the sirens going they’d made slow progress. Dan was standing in front of the white board when Mac and Tommy entered the incident room.
    ‘Just in time, I was about to start.’
    Mac and Tommy found a seat while Dan continued.
    ‘Team, we’ve got a new member who’s joining us for a while. Mac Maguire, who used to be a DCS and head of the Met’s Murder Squad, has volunteered to help us with this one. Mac, let me introduce the team.’
    He waved at a young man with black rimmed spectacles, stubbled cheeks and hair standing straight up.
    ‘This is Martin, if you need anything from the databases or need anything off the internet then Martin’s you’re man.’
    Martin managed to tear his gaze away from his laptop for a split second and give Mac the most imperceptible of nods.
    ‘This is Detective Sergeant Adil Thakkar.’
    A short but very powerful looking stocky man in his thirties leant over and shook Mac’s hand firmly.
    ‘And this is Detective Constable Mary Sullivan.’
    A tall attractive woman in her late thirties with platted blonde hair waved at him.
    ‘…and finally Detective Constable Buddy Singh.’
    A very young man with a dark blue turban smiled broadly at him from the far end of the room.
    ‘Okay we think we have something to have a go at. Adil tell us what you’ve found.’
    The sergeant stood up, notebook in hand, and took Dan’s place at the white board.
    ‘We’ve been trying to track down any friends of the girls who might be able to substantiate the facts here and hopefully add to them. So far everything we’ve found out checks with the facts and dates on the board. Mary looked for any known associates of the first girl who went missing, Mandy Stokes, Buddy took Barbara Mason and I took Angela Moran. We found something, or rather someone, that might link Mandy and Angela. They were both users, especially Angela, who her friend said would take anything she could get her hands on. Anyway, not long before she disappeared one of her clients offered her something as a sort of tip. They were white pills, her client said they were something new and she was stupid enough to take them.’
    He consulted his notebook.
    ‘Her friend said she was hyperactive for two to three days, taking all the clients she could and seemingly enjoying the sex, only problem was she then crashed and slept for nearly three days straight. Her friend said when she first found her she thought she was dead. She tried to wake her several