‘I’d like to single some of you out for a special mention. Chief Robinson, your efforts and your decisions were above reproach. You acted with professionalism at all times, your officers were exactly where they needed to be despite the pressure on resources, and your decisions were well thought out and correct. Dr Fox did an exemplary job when he joined Sgt Williams in the education block, ministering to Stan Smith and Ethan Hall. Emma, your suggestion to ask Sgt Williams to attend was a brilliant one and your dealings with Aiden Hall and his mother were compassionate and a good balance of professionalism and understanding. I will, of course, be writing to Sgt Williams thanking him formally for the voluntary role he played in identifying and bringing the murderers to justice, and sending a copy of that letter to his commanding officer. I must admit that had Emma not suggested that course of action, and Sgt Williams not agreed to come and done such a good job, the alternative could have been a very nasty riot and failure to find the murderers of Jack Walker.’
That little speech had been particularly difficult for him. Used to shouting at his staff and, he had to admit, at times belittling them instead of praising and encouraging, he found taking a more conciliatory tone difficult. He knew he had always been an ambitious man and his face flushed at the thought of some of the people he’d taken advantage of on the way up the career ladder. During the whole incident he’d come to realise how much he relied on his staff; the ones at the coal face, the ones really responsible for the successful day to day running of the prison. The aid to the Justice Minister had told him how pleased everyone at the Home Office was with how the incident had been handled and managed, and that Governor Sharpe should be praised for bringing together such a good team a team that could be relied upon to step up to the plate when required. A team that the governor could be proud of. And that’s when he realised that they were the real heroes of the day. Not him sat safely in his office, but those that were out there, talking to the boys, liaising with the police and working hard, not for themselves, but for the good of the establishment and the inmates.
That was why he took a shaky breath and he walked into what he hoped would be a brand new phase of his career. ‘One final thing…’ he said. ‘Tonight, the drinks are on me.’
Looking around Governor Sharpe realised that for the first time ever in his time at Reading Young Offenders’ Institute, each and every one of his management team were smiling at him.
***
By Wendy Cartmell
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Joint Judgement (An Emma Harrison Mystery Book 3) Page 13
