Page 14 of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
Right. It’s you. I KNEW there was someone approaching my contacts. Still using email templates like it’s 2001?
Amanda Bailey
It’s fast and efficient.
Oliver Menzies
The personal touch is king. Quality over quantity at all times. My book is for Green Street and assume yours is for Pippa Deacon’s new series.
Amanda Bailey
Is true crime your sort of thing? The Oliver Menzies I remember would consider commercial publishing beneath him
Oliver Menzies
I’m looking at it from the baby’s point of view.
Amanda Bailey
So am I. That’s my exact brief. Do Green Street know?
Oliver Menzies
You’re late to the party, Mand. I’ve been on it for weeks.
Amanda Bailey
Have you spoken to the baby?
Oliver Menzies
There’s a hundred other angles you can take.
Amanda Bailey
Have you spoken to the baby?
Oliver Menzies
Not exactly. But I’m getting warmer. Have you?
Amanda Bailey
Yes. They’re on board and have just signed an exclusive with us, so best you don’t waste any more time. But you’ll be fine. There’s a hundred other angles you can take.
My scripts for phishing phone calls, 14 June 2021:
‘Hi, I’m Sergeant Jones from the Metropolitan Police’s Child Protection unit. I’m investigating a tricky historical case. I wonder if you could access records that would confirm exactly when three children passed through your care?’
‘You can’t? Oh. Well, that’s disappointing as all I need is confirmation of dates. It could make all the difference to some very brave people. You know how difficult these historical cases are. The victims are courageous enough to come forward, some of them after many years of trauma, then for the sake of a tiny piece of info, the case falls apart. Just one little corroboration – like the time three children passed through your care – would make ALL the difference.’
‘That’s fabulous, thank you. It was 2003 and I’m talking about the minors in the Alperton Angels case. Two seventeen-year-olds and a baby, a few months old at the time. It’s pertinent to a totally separate case I’m working on.’
FOUND IT!
Willesden Children’s Service Centre
Neasden Road, NW10
