[MaC] More searching - Nicola, Michael & Hodges

[Knave of Amber]

> > "Miss Douglas, we have a murderer loose in the building.  Should we
> > be
> > spending time investigating Mr. Fitzroy?  He is an odious fascist ...
> > but
> > his involvement in such matters may have no relevance to Miss
> > Diamond's
> > death," Hodges felt constrained to point out.

"Or it could have everything to do with it old chap," Michael offered.
"We haven't found anyone, and he's the only one that tried to flee, so
far."

"Trust me, Skeffers isn't a happy bloke when the murderer gets away."

> > Cyril slowly shook his head in disbelief as he looked around at the
> > office.
> > He said nothing but his expression grew cold as ice.
> >
> > Michael as well scanned the room, but his eyes were looking for more
> > technical equipment, including those that might be hidden. "Being a
> > member
> > of the party isn't a crime, Nicola," he explained. "And I doubt poor
> > Nola
> > was a spy of any nature, although I suppose she'd play a convincing
> > Mata
> > Hari, eh?"
> >
> > It did seem to be a perfectly ordinary office, on the surface.
> > However,
> > there was a closed cupboard to one side of the room ...
> >
> > When it was opened, it was found to contain a shortwave radio - able
> > to
> > transmit as well as receive.  Whether the authorities knew of its
> > existence
> > was open to question.  Whether it was in current use - and what use
> > it was
> > put to - as also an open question.
> 
> Cyril froze at the sight of the radio.  Fitzroy had recently
> requested...no, demanded, radio parts.  Cyril hadn't been sure his
> contacts could get them.  Fitzroy had been blunt.  "Get them or..."
> That had been a tough acquisition.

With a few practiced movements, Michael had the case opened and had
removed a few tubes. "That should be that for the moment," he
commented, the tubes going into his breast pocket.

> > "Perhaps we should let the others know what we've found, especially
> > since
> > his recent escape attempt," the Group Commander suggested.  "The
> > Beamans
> > flat is occupied and the pianists looked over when they investigated
> > the
> > body, and the only other is Comrade Fitzroy's; Where if the murderer
> > is
> > waiting, it's not in hiding as we were detailed to discover."
> >
> > "Of course, if it wasn't an unknown assailant, it was a known one,"
> > Michael
> > commented. "And that'll lead to an entirely different search of the
> > apartments, I fear."
> >
> > When they emerged from the flat, the sound of voices made it clear
> > that
> > people had now gathered in the Beamans' ... so they adjourned there.

[ Off to the other thread, me thinks...]