IC - 16 - Day 3 - Kris

[Mephistophilis]

Sipping his coffee listlessly, Kris manages to eke out an hour watching for Maria Moreno, with no success.

[Philulhu]

Kris swirled the cold dregs of coffee around the bottom of his cup. Without taking his eyes off the hostel opposite, he pulled out his phone and rang the hostel reception. ”This is DC Sapru,” he said. “Has Miss Moreno returned yet?”

[Mephistophilis]

'Not yet' says the receptionist. 'We do have a mobile contact number if you want to get hold of her urgently.'

[Philulhu]

Wondering why that information hadn’t been provided earlier, Kris made a note of the number. He also left his mobile number with the instructions that they should call him the moment she returned.

Deciding that he couldn’t do much else until she returned, Kris left a tip on the table and headed out to stretch his legs. He thought he would take a walk past the car park again, to see if anything had changed with the car.

[Mephistophilis]

Kris wanders back to the car park but nothing has changed. Checking his watch he sees that he has spent the whole morning investigating the break-in and it is now after lunch. He wonders what time Miss Moreno might be returning to the hostel.

OOC,Roll Luck and roll Idea

[Philulhu]

OOC,Luck (41%) - 0 Idea (70%) - 1

[Mephistophilis]

Kris walks back round to the coffee shop and takes his seat by the window again. As he slowly sips his coffee and stares out the window it occurs to him that he hasn't yet visited the last location on his list of potential points of interest, the Royal Oxford Hotel back on Frideswide Square.

[Philulhu]

Kris pushed himself to his feet and trudged off in the direction of the Royal Oxford Hotel. He wondered how Simon and Jocelyn we’re getting on but thought better of phoning them, just in case DS Bates was anywhere nearby. He might try later, after hours.

He pushed open the door to the Royal Oxford and approached the reception desk. He showed his warrant card and produced a photo of Lindsay Peale. ’We’re looking for this woman,” he explained. “Is she one of your guests? She may have arrived late last night.”

[Mephistophilis]

As he walks along Park End Street towards the hotel, a few more insects buzz about Kris and settle on his jacket. Several are settled on the sandy wall outside the main entrance to the hotel.



Inside, the reception area is a little more contemporary than the 'Royal' moniker might suggest, all wood laminate and frosted green glass. The male receptionist looks at the photo of Lindsay Peale, 'No, I don't think I recognise her. If you have a name I can see if she is checked in.'

[Mephistophilis]

While he is talking with the receptionist, Kris's phone rings, he glances at the caller ID, he doesn't recognise the number, but it is an 0118 area code, Reading.

[Philulhu]

”Try Lindsay Peale, please,” said Kris. He pressed the answer button on his phone as he waited for the receptionist. “DC Kris Sapru speaking. How can I help you?”

[Mephistophilis]

Answering his phone, Kris finds it is the control room, they put through an outside line. 'Uh, hi, is that DC Sapru, my name is Clive Massey, I'm an AMHP' he says, sounding rather embarrassed. Kris knows an AMHP is an approved mental health professional, usually a social worker, they have some kind of role in Mental Health Act assessments to determine if people should be commited to a psychiatric hospital.

'I'm here with someone who says he knows you, he says he's working with you on a case, a missing persons case. Do you know Simon Eagleton?'

[Philulhu]

”Yes,” replied Kris with growing trepidation. “I’ve been working with Simon - is he ok?”

[Mephistophilis]

'Well, yes and no, he's here with me at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. He's been through a few things. Some kind of car crash, and then he was attacked by someone, and now there have been some concerns raised about his state of mind. He seems to think a Mr Balfour has been controlling the weather and is engaged in some kind of terrorist plot. You can understand we're quite worried about him.'

[Philulhu]

’Shit!’ thought Kris. ‘What the hell’s been going on?!’

Swallowing hard, he said, “Is Jocelyn there?! Jocelyn Leigh? She was with Simon when I last saw him yesterday.”

[Mephistophilis]

'There's no one here with him, he came in by ambulance' says Clive. 'He did mention a Jocelyn, said she works for MI5, that's not right is it? he asks, sounding very sceptical.

[Philulhu]

Kris wondered how much he should say, given that he didn’t know the caller but assumed that if he had come through the control room, it seemed unlikely to be a hoax. ”Jocelyn Leigh works for MI5. She’s working on a case with me. Simon was brought in as a consultant.”

[Mephistophilis]

'Oh, okay, well, still, a lot of what he is saying doesn't make much sense. Do you have contact details for this Jocelyn Leigh?'

[Philulhu]

Kris thought about what they had learned about the case so far. ”No, it wouldn’t,” he replied simply.

He checked his phone, found Jocelyn’s number and repeated it to Clive. “Will you be holding onto Simon?” he asked.

[Mephistophilis]

'Not if we don't have to'' says Clive. 'Ideally we'd discharge him into the care of someone responsible who could look after him, make sure he gets some help.'