New to Thieves? Start at Chapter One
Hours after the service station robbery, Filipe was sweeping the last of the rubbish from the floor of his shop. He heard the single whoop of a siren and looked out of the window to see Fiji pull up, piloted by a Captain in the Pacific Police. He came to the door with his broom in his hand as the Captain jumped down from her island.
‘You reported a robbery and some vandalism to your store?’ she said.
‘Yes,’ said Filipe. ‘I’ve tidied up now but I can give you the security tapes.’
‘That would be excellent, sir.’ Filipe took the Captain through to the back room.
‘Kava?’ he offered.
‘No thanks,’ she said, ‘I’m on duty. May I see the tape?’
‘Surely.’ Filipe wound the images back to the time of the robbery. The Captain watched intently.
‘Freeze frame.’ Filipe did as she said. ‘Wind back two frames. There.’
The Captain’s black-gloved finger pointed to the licence plate of the runaway island.
‘N-Z-2,’ she said. She walked back to Fiji and punched the details into her police computer.
'Anything come up?’ Filipe asked, leaning in through the driver’s-side window.
‘Yes,’ said the Captain. ‘It’s registered to this woman.’
A picture flashed up on the screen. The Captain compared it to the blurry security video of the island’s driver.
‘Did you recognise the perp?’ she asked.
‘Well…’ said Filipe doubtfully. ‘Whoever it was, was wearing a kakapo feather in their hair and whistling the tune from Shortland Street. I recognised it at once.’
The Captain raised one eyebrow.
‘It’s a well-made piece of television drama,’ said Felipe defensively. ‘And Adam Rickitt is just one more good reason to tune in!’
‘I think that’s the Chief Kiwi of New Zealand,’ said the Captain, peering at the security picture. ‘I’ll call it in to the station and put out an APB. If she’s in the Pacific, we’ll find her…and take her down.’
