IC - 9 - The Niece - Everyone

[Mephistophilis]

5am Friday 12th March 2010, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Ten and a half hours since Regina Balfour was abducted.

Kris drives slowly into a parking space outside a block of flats. It is still dark and his single headlight provides meagre illumination.

The apartment complex is fairly modern, all redbrick, brushed aluminium, and big windows. He reckons the address for Lindsay Peale is on the first or second floor but there are no lights on anywhere except for the stairwells. The only entry seems to be through a communal door controlled by a buzzer. There are about six different flats listed on the intercom.

The ARV has not yet arrived, although Burke has called through to say they're on their way.

[Philulhu]

”All out,” said Kris shortly, still aggrieved at having pranged his car.

Without waiting, he got out of the car, flicking on his torch and stomping over to the door, shining the beam on the keypad, trying to read the names.

[Mephistophilis]

Some of the buttons don't have any names but number 3, which is the address they've been given, has the initials 'L.P.'

Kris,Never fear, this is a police issue unmarked CID car, Kris's souped up Astra is back at the station

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn follows Kris to the door. "What's the plan?" she asks. "Do we just try the buzzer and ring her up? If she's home, that is. If she is the accomplice, she probably took the child to some other location rather than here."

[Silver Priest]

"Perhaps we could buzz a neighbor, ask them to see if she's home, make some sort of excuse about needing to, I don't know, borrow a cup of sugar." Simon smirks, briefly amused. "It might prevent her from being alarmed. Though chances are it would be out of the ordinary enough to raise her suspicions regardless."

[Philulhu]

Kris studied the door carefully. Communal doors were notorious for getting battered so there was a chance the door wasn’t secure...*

OOC,*In my experience. If it’s a decent private block, it should be in decent condition. If it’s a council or housing association block, there’s a good chance that the residents/their visitors have forced the door at some point and it won’t be so secure.

[Mephistophilis]

The apartment block looks pretty new and it is in good nick, probably private rented. The door seems secure. The phone plate has six buttons, marked 1 to 6, at the bottom is a bell marked 'Service'. These are usually used to let in tradespeople to the communal hallway, particularly deliveries, but often have restricted hours of access.

OOC,The first person to press the service buzzer roll Luck

[Philulhu]

Kris hit the service buzzer, hoping that it linked to a 24 hour concierge service, rather than just being on a fixed timer.

Luck,Luck (50%) - [dice]0[/dice]

[Mephistophilis]

The door clicks open leading to a narrow hallway, there are two doors off marked flats 1 and 2 and stairs lead upwards. There are locked postal boxes against one wall, again, numbered 1 to 6. The floor is covered in old flyers for fast food and takeaway places. It is lit by harsh fluorescent lights.

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn examines mailbox number 3, which corresponds to "L.P."

[Philulhu]

Kris took up station at the bottom of the stairs, looking up so they weren’t surprised by anyone coming down while Jocelyn checked out the mailbox.

[Mephistophilis]

Jocelyn finds the mailbox is locked. She peers inside and sees it is empty.

[Philulhu]

”Nothing?” said Kris. “Right - let’s go!”

He lead the way up the stairs, looking for flat 3.

[Mephistophilis]

Flat 3 is on the first floor (the one above the ground floor) opposite Flat 4. There is a plain red door without a letterbox. There is no sound coming from the flat and no light from under the door.

[Mr. Handy]

"The fact that box is empty means she's been here recently, at least, to empty it," whispers Jocelyn. "Everyone gets adverts and other junk, so if she'd been absent for a while, it would have something in it."

[Philulhu]

”Good point,” said Kris. “Let’s see if she’s still home,” and he knocked on the door.

[Mephistophilis]

The knock echoes in the hallway but there is no answer and no sign of anyone stirring, no sounds or lights.

[Philulhu]

Kris rapped on the door again, while pulling out his mobile with his other hand. He dialled Burke and when his colleague answered, said “Where are you now? We’re at the niece’s place and there’s no answer. We need the ‘key’.”

While he waited for Burke to answer, he idly tried the door handle in case it wasn’t locked.

[Mr. Handy]

"If she's not here, which is likely," says Jocelyn, "we need to figure out where she, and possibly Regina, went. Perhaps she or Lewiston own some other property."

[Mephistophilis]

Still no answer. The front door is locked. Burke says he's on the way, maybe five minutes.

OOC,Anyone who wants to can roll Law