‘Okay, Toby,’ says Cody. ‘You can go back to work now.’
Toby looks up. ‘That’s it?’
‘That’s it.’
Toby begins to amble away. At the door, he stops and turns.
‘I’m going to miss Sam. He really was my friend.’
And then he disappears into the shop.
As the detectives head back to their car, Cody smiles and says, ‘Want me to tell you what that was all about?’
‘No, I don’t,’ Webley answers. ‘So you can stop looking so smug. I’m one step ahead of you, Sherlock.’
Cody drops his smile. ‘Really?’
‘Yes, really. The only thing Toby was able to tell Oliver Selby was that the guy who sent him the photos was called Sam and that he was in the same exercise class.’
‘Uh-huh. And?’
‘And so the question is: how did Oliver track down Sam so that he could kill him?’
35
You Give Love a Bad Name
– Bon Jovi
Liam is taken aback when the two detectives walk into his office.
‘Hey, guys,’ he says. ‘Good to see you again.’
‘Hi, Liam,’ Cody says. ‘Hope you don’t mind us dropping in unannounced like this.’
‘No problem at all. Anything that could beef up my police application, right? I mean, I’m assuming that you’re here for my help again?’
‘We are. Do you remember that list you gave us of the people in Alexa’s exercise class?’
Liam laughs. ‘How could I forget? You don’t want another copy, do you?’
‘No. What I want to know is who has access to that information on your system?’
Liam rubs his cheek while he puts his answer together. ‘Well, there’s me, of course. The women out there on the reception desk. A couple of other staff members. Then I suppose there are the people who look after the computers and the software. I guess some people who work for the local council…’
Cody frowns at what is beginning to sound like a very long list of those who potentially have access to what is deemed to be confidential information. Talking to them all could require substantial police effort and time they don’t have.
‘What about Alexa herself? Was she authorised to access the system?’
Liam shakes his head. ‘It doesn’t work like that. The people who run the classes aren’t employees of the council. They come in and do their stuff, and they’re paid for the hours they work. There’s no need for them to know contact details of the people who sign up, and it would be a breach of data protection for us to hand them over. I only gave a list to you guys because, well, you’re police, right?’
‘Right. So, you’re pretty hot on keeping that data secure?’
‘Of course.’
‘Right.’
It seems to Cody that, yet again, they have made little progress today. He looks over at Webley, who merely shrugs back at him.
‘Thanks, Liam,’ he says.
‘My pleasure. You want me to put together a list of people who might have access to the membership data?’
‘That would be great. Thank you. My email’s on the card I gave you, if you don’t mind sending it across.’
Feeling deflated, Cody moves towards the office door.
‘Do you think the information got into the hands of someone who shouldn’t have it?’ Liam asks.
Cody stops and turns. ‘It crossed our minds.’
‘Well, maybe somebody got hold of your copy.’
‘Come again?’
‘The class list I gave you. Maybe someone has your copy.’
‘Why would you think that?’
