THE LONDON DRUG WARS Read Online Free

her nose again
with the tissue.
    “That was at what time Sarah?”
    “Half-four; that’s when I got home
from uni. I knew she had no classes that afternoon. I went straight to her room
and found her on her bed.”
    “And her door wasn’t locked?”
    “No. I knocked a couple of times then
tried the handle, it wasn’t locked.”
    “Did she usually lock her door?”
    “I think she locked it at night and
when she was out but never during the day when she was at home.” Again she
paused then added, “And when she slept out of course; she sometimes spent the
night at Peter’s.”
    Brookes looked at his notebook. Then
he said, “He lives in Penshurst Road doesn’t he?”
    She nodded. “Yes, I think so.”
    “Did you see the candle, matches and
the other stuff on the bedside table?”
    Sarah nodded. “Yes but I didn’t touch
anything.”
    “Had you ever seen that stuff in her
room before?”
    She shook her head vigorously. “No. I
know from a film I saw that’s the stuff addicts use when they inject themselves
but I’d never seen it in Amanda’s room.”
    Brookes nodded and moved on. “And the
last time you saw her alive?”
    “That morning, we got the bus
together. Then she went to the chemistry wing and I went to the biology lab.”
    “OK Sarah, I’m very grateful for your
patience.” He paused then added, “You must have wondered this yourself.
Supposing she didn’t kill herself. Is there anyone you know of that might want
her dead?”
    She frowned then nodded. “Yes I have
wondered. I know it’s not that unusual for students to get depressed but she
wasn’t that down, she really wasn’t. But who else could have done it? She
didn’t have any enemies, in fact she was very popular. It doesn’t make sense.”
    Brookes scratched his temple. “If it
was someone else how would they know she was here on her own? How often are
there students here during the day?”
    “Hardly ever; if we’re not at
lectures most of us study in the library.”
    Brookes frowned. “I wonder what made
her come home that afternoon.”
    Sarah shook her head.
    “Did she always catch the bus?”
    “If the weather was really nice she’d
sometimes walk.”
    Finally Brookes said, “OK Sarah; like
you, I’m not completely happy about this case. I’ll keep digging. If you hear
anything or if anything else occurs to you give me a ring.” He handed her his
card.
    Next he re-interviewed each of the
other students living in the house; none could add anything important to what
he had already discovered about Amanda’s life or death. Finally, walking back
to his car, he phoned the number he had for Peter Robins’ mobile. There was no
reply and it went to answerphone mode. He left a message and his number, asking
the man to call him.
    His next stop was The Princess
Alexandra, a pub in Mare Street. One of his young DCs, Mark Briggs, was having
a farewell party; he was being promoted and moving to Plaistow in nearby
Newham. Arriving, Brookes saw the party was already in full swing. Making his
way to the bar where Briggs was standing surrounded by friends Brookes held out
his hand, saying “Congratulations Mark; we’ll be sorry to lose you but our loss
is Plaistow’s gain.”
    Briggs was a sturdy man in his late
twenties; married with two young children, he was keen to get on. He smiled and
took Brookes hand. “Thanks boss, kind of you to turn up. What are you
drinking?”
    “I think I could manage a pint of
Tetley’s, thank you.”
    He spent five
minutes talking to Briggs then excused himself and went over to a table near
the window where DS Brigid Jones sat with two other women detectives, nodding
hello to several other of his team of detectives on the way. Arriving at the
table he smiled and said, “Good evening ladies. Brigid, how’s the case going? I’m
missing you.”
    Brigid Jones was Brookes’
investigative partner but was currently giving evidence at a case at the Old
Bailey. She returned his smile. “Don’t