The Inspector stood outside now, looking up to where the cold flashing symbol lent an eerie glow to the building’s exterior, the black tinted lights cascading down to where his feet now trod the wet pavement’s shimmering surface.
He began the journey home while thinking of an earlier telephone call from Lucinda Martindale, a Government appointed lawyer, one whose cold, matter of fact voice belied a warm and friendly nature. Her swift promotion up the legal hierarchy, from private practice solicitor to barrister, to Judge, to Government Advocate, gave her a presence she enjoyed, and others respected , for not only was she a positive and dynamic thinker, but of steely determination to succeed. Succeed where others would hesitate in managing far less difficult issues.
She had ‘phoned at half past three. Her voice, its usual calm tone oddly reaching higher peaks than usual in the opening pleasantries, these quickly subsiding when mention was made of a need to use a deciphering code because of the important issue involved.
"Use section B .forty nine and cross relate to C thirty three. I shall now give you the message", her speech that of a measured instruction.
Holding a pen in one hand, the 'phone in the other, Fallon waited to note the details, later to be memorised before shredding the record.
"Around the tower the soldiers marched. Three drums beat out a steady note, a note of singular concordat"." End of message".
"Shall I repeat ?"
"No", said Fallon, "It’s noted and memorised".
Walking quickly now, Fallon’s immediate wish was to get home before even stronger rains soaked his rather thin blue topcoat. He turned left onto Bishop’s Road, left at Norton Street, then right at Leicester Avenue, where traffic lights temporarily stopped further progress.
"Come on, come on, turn green !" His thoughts somewhat impatient due to a strong desire to eat, having had only a light breakfast, and no lunch, due to work pressures.
Now home, he surveyed his rather untidy one bedroomed flat, its kitchen bare except for a few utensils, its main living room’s simple furniture consisting of a large oak dresser, two easy chairs, a well filled bookcase, a computer with high stool, and in a far corner a black fronted metal cupboard, adorned with a single combination lock.
"Oh to hell with it, I’m too tired to cook now. I’ll check out incoming mail, and switch on the transmitter/receiver before going to bed. I must just let Lucinda know I’m home safe. She needs to know, because tomorrow I will begin the ‘three drums’investigation.
END OF CHAPTER ONE……………………………
