IC - 6 - Suspect - Everyone

[Mephistophilis]

1am Friday 12th March 2010, High Wycombe Police Station

Six and a half hours since Regina Balfour was abducted.

Simon runs into Jocelyn with Bates and Burke outside the interview rooms.

[Mr. Handy]

"Cheers, Boss," says Jocelyn into her mobile phone. "It's looking very much like Lewiston has gone rogue, taking it on himself to do something about this Church of the Passover Angel, regardless of the law. How did he even find out about it? He must have sources, contacts, even though he's off the job. We need to find out who his accomplices are. We know he has at least one, female." She describes what she saw of the driver on the video. "I'm just glad my job is finding Regina Balfour rather than damage control. Let me know if you learn anything more. Time is critical. That little girl needs her insulin, fast."

[Mephistophilis]

'Will do' says Giles and ends the call.

'We have a home address' says Burke, 'right here in Wycombe.'

Bates looks at Simon, 'you and Sapru done with Balfour?'

[Silver Priest]

"Kris wanted to remain with him," Simon explains. "But we did get a name. Balfour recognized the picture of our perp; thinks it was a fellow going by the name Zac Newman. He joined the church three years ago but stopped attending a short time ago."

He raises an eyebrow at the other's conversation. "But I'm assuming Mrs. Balfour confirmed all of this?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Actually, no," says Jocelyn. "I showed her his picture and explained that his hair was dyed, that it was really blond, but she didn't recognise him. I'm not surprised that he's been watching them, but three years is a long time for him to do it before taking action now. Zac Newman is not his real name, of course. It's Detective Inspector George Lewiston. DC Burke discovered this. Never met him, but I've heard of him. He's Special Branch, London Met, retired. Specialised in right-wing extremism and domestic terrorism. We need to pull his file and find out who his contacts were. He has at least one accomplice, the woman driving the Astra. As soon as Kris is done, we have to go search his house here in Wycombe. He probably covered his tracks pretty well before he made his move, as he clearly expected he might die, but he may have missed something."

[Silver Priest]

"The plot thickens," Simon muses. "It seems likely he was planning to go in there and die, given he had an easy opportunity to escape, so I wonder why he did not. Did he feel guilty over what he did, perhaps? Was he compelled in some way? Yes, checking Lewiston's house seems like our next step. While we wait for Kris, perhaps we should look Lewiston up? See if he had a social media footprint-- doubtful, given his field, but it's worth a shot."

Simon does a brief google search.

Library Use 80%,[dice]0[/dice]

[Mephistophilis]

Not surprisingly, Simon can't find any social media presence for Lewiston.

OOC,Kris is probably waiting for Simon to come back

[Silver Priest]

Simon knocks on the door and sticks his head in. "Excuse me, Agent Sapru, we have something we need your help with." He leaves the room, confident one of the officers will speak with the reverend and fill him in on anything he needs to know.

Once Kris steps out, he quickly fills him in on what they know. "Seems like the wife recognized him as well. Detective Inspector George Lewiston. Domestic extremism specialist."

[Philulhu]

”Wow, err Ok,” stammered Kris as he heard the news about Newman. “We better check out the address, pronto.”

He looked to Burke. “Where’s DS Bates? We need a search warrant if we’re going into that property.”

[Mephistophilis]

DS Bates hold her hand up, 'We don't need a warrant to search this guy's house to look for a missing child, I'll put a call in to the force lawyers to make sure. Is there anything else we need from the Balfours before we get over there?'

She shows Kris the new photo of the dead man, Lewiston or Newman.

OOC,Perhaps you could all share what you've learnt in the different interviews - it is all a bit confused at the moment

[Philulhu]

”Sorry, Lucy,” said Kris to DS Bates. “I didn’t see you there. Will we need tactical support?”

[Mephistophilis]

Lucy nods, 'I'll get an armed response vehicle in for backup, but let's keep this low key. Anyway, what are the chances Lewiston's accomplice stashed her at his house?'

[Philulhu]

“Not high,” replied Kris. “I was thinking more of making entry into the dwelling but I’ll give that a go and call for back-up if I need help.”

“I’ll drive. We can catch up on what we know on the way,” he said to Simon and Jocelyn as he headed for his locker. Moments later, he was back with his stab vest and tactical gear. As he clipped his radio in place, he said “I’m not expecting trouble but stay behind me at all times.“ His tone was clipped and forceful, disguising the fact that, inwardly, he was shitting himself... ...

[Mephistophilis]

Bates and Burke return, similarly equipped. 'We'll meet you there, you take the lead but Burke has the big red key if you need it' says DS Bates. Burke gives a big smile and hefts the police battering ram above his head.

[Philulhu]

Kris tried to banish the mental image of Burke roaring and beating his chest like a primate. He would have laughed out loud if he was so concerned about how the case was going. ”Follow me,” he said to the others, heading in the direction of the compound.

OOC,Will Kris’ car have blue strobe lights?

[Mephistophilis]

OOC,Unlikely Kris would maintain training as a response driver so he'd only be able to use blue lights stationary. I don't think CID cars usually have blue lights anyway. Strictly speaking I think CID use unmarked cars provided by the police when they're working and drive their own car to and from work. So Kris would have a different work vehicle (although an Astra is a good choice for a police vehicle). The ARV will be marked and have blue lights. Bates and Burke will go with a uniformed officer in a marked car so they can also use lights. Kris can suggest they go in all blue lights and sirens or he can ask them to be more subtle - up to you

[Philulhu]

”We’ll follow you,” Kris called over to DS Bates as they got into their cars. “Blue lights on the way over but kill them as we get closer so we’ve got the element of surprise, if there’s anyone in the house.”

He waited for the marked car to lead off, the blue strobe giving the inside of his car an eerie glow. He accelerated slightly too hard as he pulled away and had to turn sharply to prevent the back of the car fishtailing into the kerb. He flushed with embarrassment and hoped his passengers hadn’t noticed. “So, err, what did you get out of Mrs Balfour?” he asked.

[Mr. Handy]

"Unfortunately little," says Jocelyn. "Sarah Balfour could not identify the man, even after I told her that he had dyed his hair and was really blond. He did try to take the backpack, so he obviously knew Regina's medicine was in there. I asked her about the Church of the Passover Angel, but she didn't think it was relevant. Her husband founded it when he came back from Kenya and wrote their book. I also suggested that she record a video appeal to the kidnappers that we can broadcast on telly and put on the Internet. She'll consult with her husband and consider it." She looks out the window. "We'll have to be careful. The house could be booby-trapped. He doesn't seem the sort to plant a bomb, but he could easily have rigged up something to start a fire that would destroy any evidence."

[Silver Priest]

"Trying to Take the backpack is a positive sign," Simon says. "It suggests her kidnappers have an interest in keeping Reginia alive. They probably think they're helping her in some way. Normally it's easy to dismiss this misguided thinking, but it is curious that a former law enforcement agent fell for it. That and the desperate lengths he went to-- along with his decision to assault Mrs. Balfour-- suggests to me some real anger towards her parents. This anger may be one of the reasons he fell out with them and their church. Very curious."

"I share your caution as to traps. The man already has shown himself to be fanatical in his cause. Who knows what he's prepared."

"On a slightly less relevant note, Officer Sapru, is everything alright? You seem to perhaps be allergic to something-- your arm was almost entirely red."

[Mephistophilis]

OOC,Moving to a new thread: [url]https://www.callofcthulhu.org.uk/pbp/viewtopic.php?f=469&t=7127[/url]