"Barry B. Longyear - The Hangingstone Rat" - читать интересную книгу автора (Longyear Barry)

тАЬWhat about the chemical composition of the explosive? Has that
been matched to the casing fragments?тАЭ

тАЬExact match, sir.тАЭ

тАЬHowтАЩd the shell get next to an observation post?тАЭ

тАЬThe army canтАЩt explain it. Records from that period show which
part of which range was used for a particular test or exercise. They show
from where the shells were fired and where they were supposed to land,
but thereтАЩs no way to catalog short rounds or duds. If the guidance load
went out on one of those smart rounds it became just like any other
lump. Also, itтАЩs the armyтАЩs opinion that an observer could well have been
standing in that observation post during an exercise and not have
noticed a short round dud striking nearby and burying itself in the sod.
The noise, you see.тАЭ

тАЬWhat about the call?тАЭ I asked.

тАЬSorry?тАЭ

тАЬThe call that came into ABCD regarding a dead amdroid out on the
moor, Parker. Did anyone trace it?тАЭ

тАЬThe call came from a mobile phone out of Okehampton, sir. A bit
strange that.тАЭ

тАЬHow so?тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs a police mobile number assigned to a Sergeant James Colly,
constable assigned to Okehampton Station. On that exact day, though,
Sergeant Colly was in Royal Devon Hospital here in Exeter getting his
entire heart replaced. HeтАЩd been in intensive care there for a fortnight
before the operation, which is a substantial piece of surgery IтАЩm told.тАЭ

тАЬDoes make rather a good alibi, doesnтАЩt it. Where was his phone?тАЭ

тАЬWith him, sir. It was among his things in hospital, locked up.
Whoever made the call mustтАЩve duped his police card. That kept the call
from being screened out as a hoax.тАЭ

Had to have been done more than three weeks ago. Considerable
planning, highly technical, forensically sophisticated, absolutely ruthless.
тАЬParker, do you have CollyтАЩs phone records?тАЭ

тАЬYes, sir. The call to ABCD Exeter was the only call made on that
phone for the past twenty-two days. We voice printed the call recording,
and that definitely wasnтАЩt Colly who rang up the tower to report the dead
bio. Very high voice. A childтАЩs according to the computer analysis.тАЭ