The Killing Code Read Online Free PDF

there?”
    “ One in each of the four residential elevators, one in the service elevator, four on each parking level, eight in the lobby, one each on the exterior at the front and rear of the building, three on each residential floor and four in the fitness and swimming pool areas.” came the efficient response of the guard from the lobby, who seemed to be in charge.
    “ That’s a lot of cameras. Before we look at footage, did Dr. Benson enter through the lobby or did she drive into the parking levels?”
    “ She arrived in a taxi at ten minutes past eight. I knew you would enquire so I already checked the log.”
    “ Did she seem OK to you at the time?”
    “ Dr. Benson was her usual, polite and pleasant self. She always took the time to say hello to us.”
    “ OK, can you show me the residential elevator footage from eight minutes past eight tonight please.”
    “ Yes sir.” replied one of the seated guards.
    The monitor showed the interior of all four elevators simultaneously on the same screen. As the time code passed through into ten minutes past eight, they observed Dr. Benson enter one of the elevators where a small man in a hat and overcoat was already standing. They could not see the man’s face or physical features because of his hat and coat but he stood diagonally to the right and behind the doctor. As the car travelled upward, they saw the man’s hand dart out to the base of her skull then pull back and then his other hand thrust out toward the floor selector buttons.
    “ Stop it there!” Alan’s raised voice commanded. “Can you get rid of the split-screen and make that one elevator full screen?”
    “ Of course. These cameras are not the usual cheap black and whites you see in some places.”
    The man pushed some buttons and the screen showed the one elevator more clearly now. He made the digital recording start again from just before the man’s hand extended to the back of Helen’s neck.
    “ Do you want slo-mo?”
    “ That would be great!”
    The image played at about one third of its normal speed and Alan squinted, straining to see exactly what was happening on the small security monitor. As the man’s hand reached her neck, he asked the guard to freeze the image. The man’s gloved hand held a small, strange looking implement to Helen’s neck for a split second before withdrawing. Alan’s eyes narrowed into a frown and he tersely instructed the guards to give him a copy of the elevator footage five minutes before and after the event, so he could take it back to the crime lab and examine it properly on the large, high definition monitors. He also asked them to forward a copy of all the parking level and front entrance camera footage for the previous fifteen minutes to the station as soon as they could get it copied.
    Alan’s mind was racing now. According to Jim Benson, no one else could have gotten into their apartment so it had to be either spousicide or suicide but the image clearly showed a third party do something to the doctor before she got to her home. But if this man was to blame for her death, how could it be? What could someone possibly do to make another person commit suicide? His thoughts were now like a guided missile laser-locked on target. He grabbed the copy of the digital footage from the guard as soon as he’d burned the DVD for him and strode briskly toward his car. He was in no mood for traffic hold-ups so he turned on the flashing police lights situated behind the radiator grill and in the rear parcel shelf then began speeding through the lights and traffic to the station. This was out of character for the normally patient and methodical detective but he sensed he had to get on top of this as quickly as possible.
    He skidded to a halt in the police parking garage and strode briskly to the stairs then quickly made his way to the Crime Lab.
    “ Larry, can you get this footage up on the big LED monitor straight away please!” he called to the technician as he