Trophies: a gripping detective thriller (The Wakefield Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

out loud.
     
    An hour and a couple of phone calls later, Strong stepped into the office of Dr. Jacob Goldsmith at Leeds University. Dr. Goldsmith was a researcher in the Department of Linguistics and Phonetics. A small man with dark, tightly curled hair, he remembered meeting Colin Strong a year or two before and was explaining that his most recent project was a study into how children acquire accents based on social-sensitivity. The study was focusing on Tyneside.
    “Actually, doctor,” Strong said, “I’m interested in an area not far from Tyneside. Wearside actually.”
    “Please, call me Jacob.” Dr. Goldsmith adjusted the small rectangular-lensed glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Those two areas are very interesting. They’re similar but markedly different, if you know how to listen. So how can I help you? I assume this is official police business?”
    “Well, actually, I’d prefer it if this was just between ourselves for now. It may become official later but, for the moment …”
    “I quite understand,” Dr. Goldsmith said. “Now, what have you got for me?”
    Strong produced the two tapes from his jacket pocket. “I’d like your opinion on these if you would. If you could listen to this one first, I think you may be familiar with it.”
    The expert took the ‘Ripper’ tape and placed it in the equipment on the desk behind him. As soon as it began, he nodded. “Yes, I understand we did considerable work on this, oh, fifteen, twenty years ago.”
    “1979, yes.”
    “That was before my time here, obviously, but the data should still be available somewhere.”
    “Now this one please. Recorded yesterday.”
    Dr. Goldsmith repeated the operation for Montgomery’s interview tape and when that had finished, he was silent for a moment. “You think this may be the same man?”
    “That’s what I was hoping you could tell me.”
    “Well, the time differential will be significant. People’s accents can change, especially over such a long period; they age for one thing, lose teeth, or have false ones.” Dr. Goldsmith was thoughtful. “This man, the one on the second tape, he’s travelled widely in Britain. Predominantly he speaks with a Glaswegian accent which is very powerful and tends to swamp others. People from that area tend not to lose their accents as easily as other Scottish regions, Edinburgh, say. He has also lived in West Yorkshire for some time, that is evident too.” Strong nodded, as Dr. Goldsmith continued, “But, I can see why you have some suspicions. I won’t be able to give you a full opinion until I run some tests. Can you leave these with me?”
    “Of course.” Strong handed his business card across the table. “As I said before though, if this could be kept strictly between ourselves …”
    “Sure. I’ll give you a call.”
     
    On his way back to the car, Strong switched on his mobile phone. He detested them in some ways but they were now a necessary part of the job. Almost immediately, it rang.
    “Atkinson here, Sir. I’ve got some info for you on Montgomery as you requested.”
    “Go on.”
    “It seems he was married to a Sheila McDougal and had two kids, a boy and a girl we think, but not a hundred per cent on that one. They divorced in 1973.”
    “Well done, Malcolm. Where did you get all this by the way?”
    “In Montgomery’s notes, I dug up the names of the arresting officers for his first offences back in Glasgow. A quick call to Strathclyde Police and I discover one of them is now a sergeant, still at Govan and due to retire in a couple of months. He was very helpful.”
    “Good work.” Smart lad, Strong thought.
     

8
     
     
    The house was in darkness when Strong arrived home. Steady rain forced a quick dash to the front door. Once inside, he switched on the hall light and took off his coat. On the table next to the phone was a note from Amanda to say she had walked Jasper and gone off to the pictures. Laura obviously wasn’t back yet.
    In the