Impression (DI Gardener 4)

“Other than a safe deposit box, no.”

“Do you know whose?”

“I think you need to start with the name Barry Morrison.”

Challenger nodded. “Can I have the key?”

Gardener passed it over, and Challenger consulted the computer files.

“Doesn’t make sense, does it?” Reilly asked. “Morrison didn’t like banks, so why this one?”

“I don’t think this is anything to do with Morrison,” said Gardener. “Whoever did this to him knew we’d eventually come here. He’s made it easier for us. He wants us to find out what’s inside the box because it’s bound to be something we don’t know.”

“And he’s obviously not bothered if we do.”

“In the typical arrangement,” said Challenger, “a renter will pay the bank a fee for the use of the box. It can only be opened with that key, the bank’s own guard key, and the proper signature. Sometimes also a code. Some banks additionally use biometric dual-control security to complement the conventional security procedures. We don’t, but I think we can dispense with all the familiarity here, Inspector.”

Gardener nodded.

“Here we are,” he said. “Barry Morrison. He only opened the account two weeks ago. He’s never been in or used it since. We do have some CCTV footage, would you like to see it?”

“Please.”

It only took moments to find. The picture was grainy, but not so bad that they couldn’t see clearly enough.

The figure that came into view kept his head down all the time, from the opening of the steel door, to the placing of what appeared to Gardener to be a document inside the safe deposit box.

“That’s not Barry Morrison,” said Reilly.

“No surprise there,” said Gardener.

Challenger was shocked. “Well, who is it? There are strict procedures with this sort of thing. Documents and proof of who you are and where you live are needed.”

“They can all be forged, so

n.”

Challenger was about to speak again.

“Can you please just open the door for us?” Gardener asked.

The assistant did as he was asked, and then took them through another two doors and into a room with hundreds of boxes. He found the box they needed, unlocked the outer lock and slid it out of the rack, placing it on the table and stepping back as if Gardener was the customer and was due his privacy.

Gardener opened the box, which contained one piece of paper, folded into quarters.

He pulled it out, unfolded it, and read it.

He passed it to his partner to read.

“How interesting,” said Reilly.

Chapter Fifty-one

Tuesday 23rd August

“Come in, sit down. Pull up a chair.”

“Pardon?” said Gardener.