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Johnson went into the back of the shop, returning immediately. He placed the laptop on a bench in front of him, hooked it up to some kind of electrical testing equipment, and powered up the machine.
“Couple of young guys brought it in yesterday. I just want to say that I don’t think they’re responsible for what I’ve found.”
“What did they bring it in for?” asked Gardener.
“Usual thing, machine has a virus. They told me their dad’s away, and they’d been using it to do their homework. Likely story. Cut a long story short, they’d been surfing a little porn, nothing bad, but the machine got a virus and then the Blue Screen of Death, and they couldn’t do another thing with it.”
Gardener knew better than to probe further. He didn’t fully understand what Johnson had said, but suspected he’d be there all night if he asked the man t
o explain it.
The tune on the radio changed, but it was nothing that Gardener recognized. A noise behind him, followed by a curse, suggested that Reilly had dropped something. Johnson glanced over at him.
“And what have you found on the laptop?”
“I found what they’d been looking at. All the usual stuff. It’s only when I located and removed the virus and powered the machine up again that my software discovered a load of hidden files. And when I say hidden, I mean hidden. The encryption system was better than the one they have in the Pentagon.” Johnson stopped talking and fiddled with the laptop.
“Here they are, Inspector. They’re not very nice.”
Gardener took one glance. Reilly had joined him. The material was very extreme, most of it connected to the National Front.
“How much is on there?”
“I don’t think I’ve discovered all of it.”
“Okay, Mr Johnson. If you’d like to switch off the machine and let us have all the details. I take it you keep documents relating to whose machine you’re repairing?”
“Oh, yes, got it right here.”
Gardener was relieved. At least there was some organization within the place.
“We’ll pass this on to the relevant authorities.”
“Oh, are you not connected with that branch, then?”
“No, as I said, we were across the road at the station. We’re with the Major Crime Team.”
“Isn’t this a major crime?” asked Johnson.
“It is, but not our jurisdiction.”
“When we said major crime, we were talking about murder, son,” said Reilly.
“We actually came to talk to you about something else.”
“Oh?” said Johnson.
Gardener was beginning to suspect that Johnson was very unhappy about them being there, now that their interest in the laptop was not a high priority. He’d started biting his nails and moving his tools from one place to another.
“Two of our officers were in here earlier today, questioning you about the incident.”
“I remember that.”
“Do you remember what they asked you?”
“Most of it.”
“Let’s jog your memory a little, son,” said Reilly. “Did they mention a white van to you?”
