ENG

19. Protected numbers

Peter has just told Detective Smith everything he was able to find out about the telephone number that was used to call James to ask him to take the mysterious painting to the museum. After calling James, the phone was used to call a protected number.

James: What’s a protected number?

Peter: it could belong to a politician, a member of the royal family, someone in the military, an MI5 operative…

Laura: Protected numbers are for people who are very important, that’s why the telephone companies can’t give us that information. We could get the information  if  we ask for authorisation from someone higher up, but they would never give it to us for a case like this… They only normally give this information when there’s a kidnapping, a terrorist attack… Something big.

James: Ok, I didn’t know that existed. Do the police have protected numbers?

Laura: Yes, of course, in the higher ranks like… Detective Inspector Turner!