‘Thanks, boss,’ Ezra said with both embarrassment and pride. ‘I thought I’d really messed up my life when I got sent to prison. Do you know that I fainted in the dock when the judge said I was going down for five years?’
‘No, I didn’t know that.’
‘Banged my head on the stupid chair and knocked myself out. I was proper convinced that my life was over, but the worse thing was knowing that I’d disappointed not just my mum and dad but my entire family. You know what it’s like, boss, there’s a bunch of people out there who think we’re all from broken homes, don’t know our dads and that we’re in gangs stabbing each other up and then what do I go and do? Get myself a stretch in Coldingley. Became a big ol’ stereotype.’
‘Don’t ever think of yourself as a stereotype. You made a mistake, but you did your time and, most importantly, you didn’t give up on yourself,’ Henley said as a door behind Ezra opened and a man stepped out, his hands still wet.
‘I am so sorry,’ the man said, stepping behind the desk, wiping his hands along the side of his legs before picking up a headset and placing it around his neck. ‘I was in the … do you know what? Never mind. How can I help you?’
‘Detective Inspector Henley,’ she said as she presented her warrant card. ‘This is my colleague, Ezra Williams and you are?’
‘Ada Payne.’ He peered at the warrant card and then at Ezra with suspicion. ‘And what about your colleague. I need to see his credentials.’
‘He’s with me,’ Henley said in a tone that made it clear the question was moot.
‘Fine. So, how can I help you? There’s nothing in the diary to show an appointment.’
‘I’m investigating a murder, and the victim was being monitored by Soteria. I need to see your director of cybersecurity.’
‘Kaiden Longley,’ Ezra whispered behind her.
‘He’s in a meeting but that should be wrapping up now,’ Ada replied as left his position, with his ID card in hand. ‘I’ll take you through.’
Ada led them through an open plan office that had views of the city of London on both sides.
Henley could feel it as she walked, tension hung heavy in the air, phones were ringing and people raised their heads to watch the unscheduled visitors on parade.
‘Here he is,’ Ada said as a tall man in his mid-forties stormed out of a conference.
‘Kaiden,’ Ada stopped him, leaned in and whispered. Kaiden looked up at Henley, tiredness evident all over his face, and nodded to Ada.
‘Kaiden Longley,’ he had an American accent. He shook Henley’s hand firmly. ‘I don’t have much time. I’m in between … there’s a lot going on. I’ll take you through to my office.’
Henley sat down on a chair that had not been created for comfort while Ezra sat equally uncomfortable next to her.
‘I’m sorry, I should have asked if you wanted one,’ Kaiden said as he pushed a coffee pod into the machine behind him.
Henley shook her head no, instead asking, ‘How long have you been working for Soteria?’
‘It will be four years next month,’ Kaiden replied. ‘I moved here from Boston because my wife wanted to come home.’
‘So, you know Soteria’s IT system well?’
‘Like the back of my hand.’
‘This is my colleague, Ezra Williams. He’s our …’ Henley paused, suddenly realising that she wasn’t sure what Ezra’s official title was with the SCU as he seemed to change it each week.
‘Senior forensic computer analyst for the SCU,’ Ezra said proudly. ‘Specialist in cybersecurity and network security.’
‘We’re investigating the murder of Sian Fox-Carnell who was being electronically monitored by Soteria,’ Henley explained.
Kaiden’s face paled. ‘Murder,’ he said. ‘I thought she was just missing?’
‘How can you not know?’ Henley asked incredulously. ‘Her tag came back online last Friday morning.’
‘It came online but then it went off again once the battery died, but the point is I wasn’t informed the offender had been found and that she was—’
Kaiden paused and watched through the glass as a small group exited the conference room he’d been in earlier. ‘Ever get the feeling that you’re being hung out to dry? Sorry, you’re not here to talk about office politics.’
