by Rob Ashman
‘ACC Quade is expecting you, Roz, go straight in,’ she said, consulting her on-screen diary.
‘Thanks.’
Kray opened the door to be greeted by Quade jumping up from behind her desk. ‘Roz, glad you could drop by.’
‘You wanted to see me?’
‘Please take a seat.’ Quade bustled around the desk and squeezed into one of the chairs at the conference table.
I bet that’s going to be stuck to your arse when you get up…
‘What can I do for you, ma’am?’
‘I have a meeting with the Chief. What’s the latest?’
‘We found Eddie Marshall’s body. The security firm who look after the Camelot site reported an abandoned car. We ran the number plate and traced it back to Billy Ellwood. Sniffer dogs found Marshall nailed to the floor in a basement of one of the properties on site. Fingerprints have confirmed it was Ellwood who used the power tool that killed him.’
‘Any news on Ellwood?’
‘Nothing. From what we can tell his belongings are still at his flat and he’s disappeared. The clothes he wore when he killed Marshall are in his car. We’re monitoring his bank account and we’re going to put out an appeal.’
‘That sounds like the right call. I’ve got an update for you: The Independent Office for Police Conduct and an internal investigation team are all over Dan Bagley. He’s been charged and will appear in court tomorrow. There’s bound to be a media circus when the news breaks. I wanted you to hear it from me rather than read it in the papers.’
‘Thank you, ma’am, I appreciate the heads-up. The IOPC have already spoken to me and I’ve provided them with everything we have.’ Roz got up to leave.
‘Please sit a while, Roz. How are you finding the role of Acting DCI?’
‘It’s fine, ma’am. You may recall I did the role before, so it was the easiest move.’
‘Yes, you did a good job last time.’
Shame you promoted a bent copper instead, then?
‘Thank you, ma’am. As I said, it was the most straightforward thing to do, given the circumstances.’
‘You know Bagley and I weren’t friends. I knew him from work and that was about it.’
‘Okay.’
‘We met at police college years ago and our paths have crossed a few times, but I didn’t really know him that well.’
‘Your relationship, or otherwise, with Dan Bagley is of no concern of mine.’
‘Now, I know we’ve had our slight differences in the past, Roz.’
Is that in the same way that America and Vietnam had a slight difference in the sixties?
‘I think it’s fair to say that.’
‘But I want you to know that I rate you very highly and you have my full support.’
Kray wondered if this was the right time… she decided it was. ‘I see things a little different, ma’am.’
‘Oh?’
‘My experience is you have never given me your support and have always chosen the word of DCI Bagley over mine.’
‘That’s because we have a chain of command that needs to be upheld.’
‘We do, ma’am, and that is important but–’
‘Do I have to remind you of the support I gave you when you came to me with the accusations against Dan?’
‘No, ma’am, you don’t. You supported me on that occasion and you gave me the green light to operate outside of the investigation – and for that I’m grateful. But that was only because the weight of circumstantial evidence stacked up against Bagley was so great that if it came out later that you had taken no action, you would be hanging in the breeze.’
‘I’m disappointed that you see it that way, Roz. I’ve always had the utmost confidence in you.’
‘It hasn’t felt that way.’
‘Anyway, that’s water under the bridge.’ Quade waved her hand in the air like she was swatting a fly. ‘This latest situation means we will be looking for a new head of CID. We’ll need to appoint a new DCI.’
‘I figured that.’
‘I want you to know, I will be running the selection board.’
‘I thought you would, as you ran the last one.’
‘You are a very strong candidate, Roz – a very strong candidate indeed.’
Kray stared into her lap, then looked up. Quade was smiling back at her, nodding her head with her eyebrows raised in a do you get what I mean? kind of way.
‘That’s good, ma’am.’
‘So, I need to know, can I count on your application for the role?’
Kray placed both hands on the table and got to her feet. ‘I’ve given this a lot of thought and I was going to drop by your office sometime later today.’
‘Oh, why’s that?’
‘Because I wanted to give you this.’ Kray fished an envelope from her inside pocket. On the front was written, ACC M Quade. She laid it on the table.
‘What’s this?’
‘I took on the role of Acting DCI because I didn’t want to let the team down. They have a heavy caseload and need someone in their corner, so I stepped up to the plate.’
‘I realise that, Roz, you are hugely loyal to those around you.’
‘Yeah, and that’s the problem.’
‘What problem?’
‘I’m not sure that loyalty is reciprocated elsewhere.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘How can I put this… with the greatest of respect, ma’am… shove your job up your arse. I’ve obviously written it in more flowery language in the letter, but the meaning is the same.’
Quade’s mouth dropped open. ‘But… but…’
Kray turned and walked out.
‘Roz, you were asking if the ACC had any time in her diary today,’ Norma Pettiford called after Kray. ‘Do you still need an appointment?’
‘No, Norma, I think we’re done.’
Chapter 50
One year later
Millican pushed open the door to the pub and stepped to one side, allowing Kray to shimmy her way in. The place was brash and noisy, with music blaring from speakers the size of armchairs, and clusters of pretty people standing at the bar.
‘Oi up!’ Tavener galloped over and enveloped her in a bear hug. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d be able to come.’
‘Get off, you great lump.’ Kray shoved him away and slapped him on the arm. Tavener shook hands with Millican.
‘How you doing?’ Millican asked.
‘Bloody pissed by the look of it,’ answered Kray.
‘Come on over, I hope ya wearin’ ya drinkin’ troosers.’ The more drunk Tavener got the more Scottish he became. He put a giant paw on Millican’s shoulder. ‘Great ta see you.’
Kray scuttled along behind. They reached a gaggle of people in the corner, where two huge ice buckets were sitting in the middle of the table, overflowing with bottles of beer, fizz and white wine. A huge cheer went up when they saw Kray.
‘Bloody hell, Roz. I didn’t know you were coming along.’ Gill came over and gave her a more gentlemanly hug.
‘Hello everyone!’ Kray shouted over the cacophony of sound. ‘We got back a few days ago and weren’t sure if we could make it.’ This prompted a great deal of backslapping for Millican and more hugging for Roz.
Louise Chapman sidled over to Tavener. ‘You going to top me up?’
He pulled the bottle of fizz from the icy water and emptied it into her glass. ‘Who’d have thought it, Roz? Me… a Detective Sergeant.’ He raised the empty bottle in the air.
‘Congratulations, Duncan, you deserve it,’ Kray said.
‘Don’t praise him too much, Roz. If his head gets any bigger he won’t get his ears through the door.’ Chapman reached up and kissed Tavener on the cheek.
Kray raised her eyebrows.
Tavener leaned over. ‘A lot’s happened since you’ve been away.’
‘So it would appear.’
‘Anyway, enough about me, how about you two?’ Tavener said, handing over two bottles of beer. Kray looked a
t hers and handed it back.
‘What am I supposed to do with that?’ she said.
‘Sorry.’ Tavener poured her a glass of wine the size of a fish bowl.
‘Our Europe trip was amazing.’ Millican wound a tanned arm around Kray’s shoulder. ‘We travelled around, catching planes, renting cars, stopping in hotels and having a good time.’
‘How long were you there?’ asked Chapman.
‘Four months.’
‘Bloody hell, no wonder you both look so well.’
‘We decided to splash out with some of the money from the sale of my house,’ Kray said, taking a large swig of wine. ‘If you’re going to do it – do it properly. Cheers everyone.’
They raised their glasses and the four of them chinked.
‘Hey, wait a minute!’ yelled Chapman. ‘What’s this?’ She lifted Kray’s left hand to reveal a ring on her third finger. ‘You sneaky bugger.’
‘Oh yes, and somewhere along the way, we got engaged,’ Millican said.
‘That’s fantastic.’ Tavener was in bear hugging mode again and grappled Kray and Millican into a clinch. ‘I’m so pleased for you both.’
‘Yeah, we’re pretty pleased about it as well.’ Millican struggled free and shook Tavener’s hand.
‘That’s marvellous, a double celebration,’ said the big Scotsman.
Chapman planted a kiss on Millican’s cheek and dragged him away to tell the others.
‘Thanks for coming,’ Tavener said.
‘It’s not every day my little protégé moves up the ranks.’ Kray raised her glass again.
‘I miss you,’ he said.
‘Bollocks.’
‘No, I do. It’s not the same without you. No one threatens to beat me up or tells me to fuck off.’
‘You’ll find someone else to annoy.’
‘Did you know Brownlow retired?’
‘I’m not interested.’
‘Bagley got sent down. By all accounts he’d been on the take for years. The Critchleys started off by blackmailing him over some recreational drug use and then brought him onto the payroll. Bagley and Marshall were joined at the hip; wherever Marshall went, Bagley followed.’
‘I said I’m not interested.’
‘Ellwood disappeared into thin air. It’s like he’s fallen off the face of the earth. Not a trace.’
‘I’m still not interested.’ Kray poured more wine down her throat. ‘What about Quade?’
‘I thought you weren’t interested.’
‘Do I have to beat it out of you?’
‘Ha, she’s still there. Larger than life.’
‘Larger than any life I know.’
‘Do you wish you were back?’
‘Christ, no. Well, maybe a little, but don’t tell Chris. I’ve got an interview for a new job on Monday.’
‘Doing what?’
‘Fraud investigation for an insurance firm.’
‘So, if they have any serial killers making false claims they send for you?’
‘Very funny.’ They hugged each other. ‘I’m proud of you.’
‘Do I get an invite to–’ Tavener stopped, aware there was another person standing next to them. ‘Good evening, ma’am.’
‘Good evening.’ It was Mary Quade. ‘Hi, Roz, I hope you don’t mind, I heard you were here.’
‘Hi, Mary, I guess bad news travels fast.’
‘Don’t worry, Duncan, I’m not going to stay,’ said Quade.
‘Would you like a drink, ma’am?’ he asked.
‘No, I’m driving, thank you.’
‘How about a soft drink?’
‘I’m not staying. I’ve come to see Roz.’
‘Me? Why have you come to see me?’
Quade took Kray by the elbow and led her to one side.
‘I’ll come straight to the point. I need your help.’
‘To do what?’
‘We’ve got a problem.’
‘We? I don’t think we have a problem.’
‘Okay. I have a situation with a case and could really use your help.’
‘What sort of case?’
‘A murder investigation.’
‘You’re asking me to come back?’
‘Well, maybe, how about–’
‘I’m flattered, but the job takes its toll. It demands that you sacrifice a lot and I’ve sacrificed more than most; my physical health, my mental well-being, my dead husband and my unborn child. Plus, it almost robbed me of the chance to make a new life with Chris and I cannot risk that happening again.’
‘I agree, it’s not without its challenges, but–’
‘Mary… if you were drowning I’d throw you a breeze block. My first answer still stands – stick your job up your arse.’
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Acknowledgments
I want to thank all those who have made this book possible – My family, Karen, Gemma, and Holly for their encouragement and endless patience. Plus, my magnificent BetaReaders, Nicki, Jackie and Simon, who didn’t hold back with their comments and feedback. I’m a lucky boy to have them in my corner.
I want to thank my ARC Group who have shouted about my books and made me blush with their unwavering support.
And last but by no means least, my wider circle of family and friends for their endless supply of helpful suggestions. The majority of which are not suitable to repeat here.
