Ghost in the Machine Read Online Free PDF

there, both of them would be pregnant by now."
    Cullen shook his head. "I don't know where you get that from."
    "You're a proper swordsman, aren't you?"
    "Eh?"
    "There was that bird at the Christmas party, wasn't there?" said Miller. "And there's DS McNeill."
    "There's nothing going on between me and DS McNeill." Cullen gestured at the sandwich shop. "Don't be ages."
    Miller went inside with a smile on his face.
    Cullen glanced up at the sky, the dark grey clouds belying the fact it was the middle of summer - if Miller was inside too long, they might get caught in the rain. He leaned against the wall and called Steve Allen. He pushed the phone between his shoulder and neck and listened to the ringing tone.
    Allen answered, sounding flustered.
    Cullen introduced himself. "I believe you're acquainted with a Caroline Adamson."
    "That's right."
    Cullen found it hard to make out his voice over the noise of the wind at the other end of the line.
    "I'm trying to ascertain her whereabouts," said Cullen. "When was the last time you heard from her?"
    "Can I ask why?"
    "She's gone missing," said Cullen. "One of her friends has reported it to us."
    "Oh sweet Jesus."
    "I need to track Ms Adamson's movements," said Cullen. "It could be you were the last person to speak to her before she disappeared."
    "Okay, okay," said Allen. "Give me a second." There was a pause. "I think I texted her on my way to the Celtic match. About seven, I suppose."
    "And Ms Adamson replied?"
    "Yes. I'd wished her luck on her date and she said I needed more luck than she did what with going to see Celtic."
    Cullen noted it down - she had been jovial enough on Wednesday night, then. "Was this the last time you heard from her?"
    "Yes, it was. I texted her back but she didn't reply."
    "And was this unusual?"
    "Now you mention it," said Allen, "she does usually reply to texts quite quickly."
    Cullen noted it down - that was the second unanswered text message. "And before that, when was the last time you'd spoken to her?"
    "The previous evening," said Allen. "We sometimes have a chat on a Tuesday night to see how things are going. I think we spoke for about half an hour."
    "And how did she seem?"
    "Nervous, I suppose," said Allen, after another brief pause. "Excited, maybe. She was going out on a date the next night, after all. I mean, she barely spoke about Jack at all on the call, only about five minutes, which is a record with Caroline, believe me."
    "We're keen to get in touch with the man she was out with," said Cullen. "Do you know anything about him, any way we could get in touch with him?"
    "Not really, no," said Allen. "I just knew he was from Edinburgh. She met him on the internet, I think."
    Miller appeared from the shop, putting his mouth round a massive baguette.
    Cullen looked away. "Mr Allen, can you think of anyone I should get in touch with about Caroline? Someone who might know her whereabouts?"
    "Look, how serious is this?"
    "We're concerned for her safety," said Cullen. "She left her son with a friend and hasn't been to pick him up, or been heard from since Wednesday night."
    "Jesus Christ." Allen didn't speak for a few seconds. "This is off the record, but if anything happened to Caroline the first person I'd be talking to would be Rob."
    "Her ex-husband?"
    "Yes, him," said Allen. "Look, I'm afraid I've got to go. Give me a call if you need anything."
    Cullen took down a couple of other contact numbers for him and ended the call. He pocketed his phone and notebook.
    "Who was that?" said Miller through a mouthful of mashed up chicken and white bread.
    "Steve Allen."
    "Good work getting through to him."
    Cullen nodded at the roll. "What did you get?"
    "Cajun chicken," said Miller. "Pretty decent, likes."
    "Come on, let's get going," said Cullen. "When you've finished chewing, could you call Control and see if Rob Thomson's got a record?"
    Miller did a mock salute. "Yes, boss."  
    Walking a few steps ahead of Miller, Cullen dialled Thomson's number.