Lisa Stone - Stalker

‘Absolutely nothing,’ Matt said frustrated, setting down his desk phone again. ‘I’m over halfway through Flint’s list of apprentices and not one of them knows anything about his business, let alone saw anything suspicious. However, contrary to what Flint told us, he didn’t teach them so well that they left to get better jobs. They all left because he taught them bugger all. They seem to have spent their entire time sweeping up, cutting wire, and occasionally being allowed to tighten a screw. I’ll continue through the list, but I’m not hopeful. I take it you’re having more luck?’

‘Not too bad,’ Beth said, glancing up at Matt over her computer screen. ‘So far a dozen of the clients I’ve contacted changed their passwords on Derek’s suggestion, all to the first two letters of their names plus 10. So we know for sure he could access all those systems. When I asked them to check their cameras for a built-in microphone, they all discovered at least one of their cameras had a mic. None of them had been aware of it.’

‘But that doesn’t prove he was spying on them,’ Matt said. ‘The mic might have come as standard as it does on most laptops now.’

‘I know, I need more. The Mermaid Massage Parlour is the next on my list, although I’m expecting the same there.’

‘It might be better if I visited them in person?’ Matt offered with a suggestive wink. ‘You know, the hands-on personal touch.’

‘Just concentrate on your work,’ Beth chided with a smile. ‘I’m quite capable of managing this.’

She keyed in the phone number for The Mermaid and the phone was answered by Betty.

‘Hello, it’s DC Beth Mayes at Coleshaw police station.’

‘Your lot were only here last month. I can’t be due for another raid yet?’

‘No. I need to ask you a few questions about your surveillance system.’

‘OK. What about it?’

‘I understand it was fitted by Home Security?’

‘Correct.’

‘Can you tell me how many cameras you have and where they are situated?’

‘We have one in the entrance and one in each of the rooms.’

‘Do you know if any of the cameras have in-built microphones?’

‘Yes, they all do,’ she said matter-of-factly.

Beth was completely thrown. It wasn’t the response she’d been expecting. ‘And the microphones are switched on?’ She saw Matt watching her, intrigued.

‘Yes. It helps keep everyone safe.’

‘Does anyone else have access to your surveillance system apart from you?’

‘Why?’ she asked suspiciously.

‘It’s part of an investigation into online safety.’

‘I doubt it, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t know. Me and the guy who fitted the system have access to it.’

‘Derek Flint?’

‘Could be.’

‘Is it?’

She sighed. ‘Yes.’

‘So he knows your password?’

‘Yes.’

‘Do the girls know he can watch them?’

‘Of course. They don’t mind if it keeps them safe.’

‘Does he ever visit The Mermaid in person?’

Betty gave a hearty laugh. ‘No love, of course not. He’s a voyeur like so many of them online. They like to watch but don’t touch. It’s not an offence if the person knows they’re being filmed.’

‘I know. OK, Betty, thank you for your time.’

‘Always glad to help the police,’ she said with only a hint of sarcasm.

Beth replaced the handset and looked at Matt. ‘Well, well.’

‘I told you he was weird,’ Matt said, aware of the gist of the conversation.

‘Each to his own, I suppose. But I still need to prove he was spying on his clients to gain information to commit the crimes.’

Beth put a C and a tick beside The Mermaid Massage Parlour on her list, denoting that Betty knew the cameras had built-in microphones and they were in use. All the others had a C and an X, showing there was a mic but they weren’t aware of it and it wasn’t in use. She now phoned the next on the alphabetical list Derek Flint had emailed.

It was a long day but by five o’clock Beth had come to the penultimate name: Mr and Mrs Williams. Stiff from sitting at her computer, she stood and stretched. Matt had left an hour before to visit Paul to see if he could jog his memory. As the most recent of Derek’s apprentices he was the most likely to remember something. She stretched again, took a sip of mineral water and returned to her chair, considering what she knew. All the clients she’d contacted so far had changed the default password on Derek’s instructions and at least three had found in-built microphones they weren’t aware of, but it still didn’t prove Derek was spying on them and gaining information to commit crimes. Only his computer would reveal that and at present they just didn’t really have enough evidence to bring him in and seize his equipment.

Beth dialled the Williams’ house and with a stab of horror recognized the address. It was the same family she and Matt had visited a few months back after a break-in had gone horribly wrong and resulted in Mr Williams being viciously attacked. They must have installed CCTV subsequent to the attack, but in choosing Home Security had they become any safer? Not if her suspicions were correct.

Julie Williams answered.

‘Hello, DC Beth Mayes here from Coleshaw police station.’

‘Hi. How are you?’ she said, recognizing her name. ‘Have you caught the person who broke in?’

‘Not yet, I’m afraid, but we’re still working on it.’

‘We had the CCTV put in like you suggested. Even so, it was a long time before we felt safe in our home again.’

‘I’m sure it was. How is Mr Williams now?’

‘He’s made a full recovery, thank you.’

‘Excellent. I’m actually phoning about your security. Could you answer a few questions?’

‘I’ll try.’

‘Am I right in thinking that you have used the firm Home Security?’

‘I’m not sure, there’s a sticker on the monitor in the hall. Shall I check?’

‘Yes, please.’

She was gone a moment. ‘Yes, it is Home Security. I remember now, a man called Derek Flint. He was very efficient and got everything done in a day. We were so relieved.’

‘Do your cameras have in-built microphones, do you know?’

‘I don’t think so. Should they?’

‘No.’ Beth put a question mark beside their name. ‘Did you change the password from the default – the one it came with?’

‘Oh yes. Mr Flint was very insistent on that.’

‘Do you still remember it?’

‘Yes, it’s easy, a combination of our names plus the number ten.’

‘Thank you. Have you changed it recently?’

‘No.’

‘I think you should. It’s a good idea to change passwords every few months.’

‘I’ll do it later when my husband comes in. It needs to be something we can both remember so we can log in and check when we’re out.’

‘Do you have to check it often then?’

‘We have been doing after the business with our babysitter. We’ve got a new sitter now but I wouldn’t trust anyone after that.’

‘What happened with the sitter?’ Beth asked.

‘We caught her in our bed with her boyfriend.’ Beth suppressed a smile. ‘It was pure luck that we received the email when we did or we would never have known.’

‘What email would that be?’ Beth asked, her interest piqued.

‘It was an automatic email sent by the security firm, but it turned out to be an error. Russ and I were out for a meal when we received it.’

Beth felt the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. ‘What did the email say?’

‘I can’t remember exactly something like there may be a security issue and to log in and check the CCTV cameras.’