The phone rings …

‘Naval Intelligence.’

Put me through to the Director will you?’

‘And you are?’

‘Detective Sergeant Leane, Adelaide CIB.’

The DS waits to be switched through, it’s July 29th and only six days since the Somerton Body Case achieved its first breakthrough when a local Chemist handed in a coded Rubaiyat that matched the slip found in the the body’s pocket.

‘Captain Eric Nave here, how can I help you?’

‘I have what looks like a code that is related to the finding of an unidentified body in Adelaide late last year.’

‘Go on.’

‘Would it be possible for you to have a look at it, codes being something you would be more familiar with than we are?’

‘What’s it written on?’

‘The back of a small book of verse, in pencil, very faint and hard to read.’

‘Sounds interesting. Anything similar on the inside?’

‘Not as far as I know, but as I said, you people are the experts.’

‘Send the book over then and we’ll have a look at it.’

‘We have a small problem there, I’m afraid.’

‘Being what?’

‘Somebody seems to have misplaced it.’

‘The book?’

‘Yes, most unfortunate.’

pause …..

‘If you’ve lost the book then how are you going to send me the code?’

‘We took a photo, will that do?’

‘Looks like it will have to. How long did you have the book?’

‘Um .. Less than a week. A couple of days, maybe.’

pause …..

‘Can I send you a similar one?’