IC - 16 - Day 3 - Kris

[Mephistophilis]

After a few minutes the operator gets back to Kris. He reports that the car was mostly seen in the Bristol area until Thursday morning when it went from Bristol to Oxford via the M4 and A34, arriving around 8.30am. There were no obvious diversions along the way.

[Philulhu]

Nothing about the car suggested to Kris that it was involved in the burglary. From his experience, burglars liked to make themselves scarce after a job, not book in for a long weekend. Nevertheless, he asked for an ANPR alert if the number plate was picked up again, or if the station received a call about the missing number plate (or any other plate from that car park).

OOC,Although the car isn’t parked in view of the CCTV, presumably the camera covers enough of the car park so that anyone walking to the car would have to cross its field of vision?

[Mephistophilis]

The carpark lies between Hythe Bridge Street to the north and Park End Street to the south. The entrance is on Park End Street and in full view of the Tidmarsh Lane CCTV. However, a pub on the Park End Street side partially obscures the view of the western edge of the parking. The carpark itself is surrounded by a knee high wall. It would be very easy to enter the carpark from Hythe Bridge Street on foot and to access a car parked on the western side without being seen by the Tidmarsh Lane camera.

OOC,Try an Idea roll

[Philulhu]

OOC,Idea (70%) 0

[Mephistophilis]

It seems to Kris that it is very unlikely that someone missing a front numberplate would park in a carpark that requires numberplate registration on the ticket with their rear plate obscured. This suggests to him that the numberplate has been removed after parking, and probably not by the owner. Perhaps someone else needed one for some reason. Perhaps one with parking paid for over the weekend.

[Philulhu]

OOC,Let’s see if I have this right...

With the missing number plate on his phone, Kris methodically checked the cars in the car park. He started with those parked along the back wall, especially those out of sight of the CCTV camera and which had weekend parking.

[Mephistophilis]

It doesn't take Kris too long to find a black Ford Focus a few cars down from the Golf. It is reversed in and while the front plate matches the one from the Golf it does not have a rear numberplate attached. The parking ticket in the window is also for the Golf numberplate, with one letter changed, and lasts until next Wednesday morning. In the rear there is a child's booster seat.

[Philulhu]

Kris made a note of the issue time of ticket and rang the CCTV operator again. Giving the operator the time the ticket was issued as a starting point, he asked him to check what time the Focus had arrived and whether there was any footage of the occupants.

OOC,Edit: Kris will also make a note of the Vehicle Identification Number so he can check with the hire company that it’s the same vehicle.

[Mephistophilis]

Comparing the ticket time, information from the ticket machine operator, and after asking the increasingly fed up CCTV operator to check the Tidmarsh Lane camera, Kris confirms that a black Focus arrived just after midnight into the carpark in the early hours of Friday morning. The footage doesn't show the vehicle occupants or where she parked but after a rather long delay of around 15min a woman in a dark hoodie is seen at the machine buying the ticket. She briefly moves out of shot, presumably returning to the car, and then walks west on Park End Street.

Checking the VIN with the rental agency confirms it is the vehicle rented by Lindsay Peale.

[Philulhu]

OOC,She’s on her own as she walks down Park End Street?

[Mephistophilis]

The footage shows the woman, around 12.20am, walking west along Park End Street. Alone.

[Philulhu]

Kris looked around to check if anyone was about and satisfying himself that the coast was clear, let the air out of the rear tires of the Focus...

[Mephistophilis]

The air gushes out with a satisfying hiss and both rear wheels sink down, one after the other.

[Philulhu]

With a satisfied smile, Kris followed the route that the suspect - who he was now pretty sure was Lindsay Peale because of the hire car - had taken down Park End Street. He looked out for any hotels or hostels where she may be staying.

[Mephistophilis]

Leaving the carpark Kris walks down Park End Street towards the Central Backpackers. On the way an insect flies into his hair and Kris spends thirty seconds trying to flick it out, which a teenage girl walking in the other direction seems to find very funny.

The Central Backpackers is smaller than the last hostel he visited, it also has mostly small mixed dormitories and one small female dorm. When Kris arrives the receptionist is stood outside smoking. They have no children staying and no record of a Lindsay Peale.

[Philulhu]

”She may have booked in under an assumed name,” said Kris, kicking himself for not thinking about it earlier. “It could be Newman or Lewiston and she would have arrived after midnight.”

[Mephistophilis]

The receptionist flicks through the register, 'Nah, no Lewiston or Newman. Only one woman came in after midnight on Thursday night, let's see, Maria Moreno, arrived 12.35am.'

[Philulhu]

”I don’t suppose you were on duty?” asked Kris calmly, although his pulse was quickening at the thought of tracking down his quarry. ”Or do you have CCTV?”

[Mephistophilis]

'Wasn't me on, I'm on days this week. And we don't have CCTV. But I do have a copy of her passport.'

He shows rummages around in a filing cabinet and comes back with a photocopy of a passport photo page.



The passport confirms the name of Maria Moreno, who is listed as being aged 24yrs and from Spain.

[Philulhu]

Kris tried to hide his disappointment. He’d hoped to be looking at a photo of Lindsey Peale. Nevertheless, he thanked the receptionist. “Can I borrow this for a moment? I just need to make a quick phone call. I’ll be back in a moment...”

He stepped outside and put a call through to the control room. “Can you run a check on a Maria Moreno, please? Address in the UK or otherwise, employment, immigration status, the lot.” And he gave the woman’s details and passport number to the officer.