Misperception

Chapter 8 - Lady Mariah's clock

I woke up drowsy, after a long night spent in dreams full of analysis and ideas about baby Lewis's case. You may not know that about me yet but I do think while asleep, my brain can't switch off when I'm confronted with a puzzle. I had to consume a considerably big amount of coffee to sober up and decided to make as many phone calls as necessary before deciding to go out if I'll ever do. The morning papers were full of baby Lewis's pictures and the news about the phone call the kidnapper made to Daphne Clarke. My first phone call was to agent Martin.

"Good morning agent Martin, any news from the airport ?."

"Good morning Dr. Austin, Yes we did spot the Honda entering the airport with a different licence plate as you expected, and we followed up the lady with the dark shades up to one of the rest rooms. That is it."

"That is it how ?, where did she go from the rest room?. Did she leave the country?, was the boy with her?."

"We don't know. The problem is that we can clearly see her enter the rest room but never exiting. We keep repeating the tapes, trying to solve this new mystery, if she has changed her disguise there is no way to detect her. We are trying facial recognition programs, and height measuring programs but in a busy international airport it is expected to take long time."

" I see. Can I ask for a copy of these tapes !. I'm prepared to sign any confidentiality document necessary, it is just I need to think while being alone. This case is puzzling me even while asleep and in order to organize my thoughts I need these tapes ready beside me, also I need the cabin CSI tapes please if possible."

"That will be a first but I'm very much interested to know how you will contribute to solving this puzzle. I'll arrange for the copies and Walker will deliver them to your office tomorrow. To tell you the truth this case is not like any I've seen in my long career."

"I can imagine, it is just full of small details, and moreover full of missing details. We will get to the bottom of it I promise you."

"I hope so Dr. Austin. I hope so."

The next thing, I managed to send Lord Malumborough an e-mail containing my contacts and office address. Then I got to arrange the case maps, photos, and details of interest on a big white board, then I decided to empty my head and try to forget all about the case and get busy with the personal assistant CVs. One resume in particular has attracted my attention, her name was Valentina Jones and the contrast between her artistic name and plain features in her photo was huge. Miss Jones's resume was written in an impeccable language, professional style, and has both qualities of being short but informative.

She is thirty years old, with major degree in accounting and minor degree in literature. She has moderate experience as secretary in three medium size companies, her asking salary is moderate, and she lives near by. The most important point is she likes gardening. So let it be, I'll meet Miss Jones for an interview first before I tend to ruffle through anymore CVs, and I hope I won't be needing to. Then it was time to sit with my legs crossed on the comfy huge leather couch in front of the white board and just read what is on it and think.

I was thrown out of my yoga trance by the phone ring, to my astonishment it was Lord Malumborough !.

"Good afternoon Jane, how is our aristocrat psychiatrist turning detective doing !." His voice was deep as usual, I could see the smile on his face while talking but in the same time I could sense some tension.

"Good afternoon Sir Rupert, how are you." I said with a smile, I like Sir Rupert and am always happy to talk to him.

"So you are a detective now Professor Austin huh. I might need your help by the way."