Chain of Evidence
Page 36
* * * *
Scobie Sutton went home to his wife all twitchy. To his way of thinking, hed precipitated a violent death that afternoon.
Oh, you poor boy, Beth said when he told her all about it. She took him to the sofa and perched there, holding his hands in her lap.
There was nothing I could do.
Of course there wasnt.
It wasnt my fault. He was holding a shotgun to Kellocks head.
Its okay, love.
This has all been such a mess.
I know it has. And I havent exactly been a help to you, with my moods.
Well, that was true. Scobie felt a little aggrieved. But at least she was there. The sensations of her were familiar and welcome, her warm hands and the press of her breasts against his arm.
Things will get better, youll see, she went on.
Thats what his mother had always said. Thats what he and Beth always said to Roslyn. I hope so, he said in a small voice.
She said perkily, Ive got a job interview.
You have? Thats wonderful.
A short term contract with the shire, but better than nothing.
With the shire that sacks its workers via e-mail. Exactly, said Scobie in his bucking-up voice.
As he saw it, his and Beths way was modest. A woman like Grace Duyker had a different way. That wasnt to say that one was right and the other wrong, he didnt think, just so long as he kept telling himself that.
* * * *
Ellen didnt go home. At 11 pm she was still in her office writing up her notes. There was no urgency, she didnt have to do it now, but the world outside was mad and in CIU it was quiet. She put down her pen, swivelled in her chair and looked out on the purple night. After a while, she went to the incident room and began to dismantle the displays of maps, charts and photographs. So much paperwork. Shed once worked an investigation of six months duration. It generated over fifty boxes and folders, containing thousands of search warrants, extradition documents, interview transcripts and field notes.
Well, this was going to be another big one. It wasnt over yet. Kellock might not have been the end of it: there were surely more men involved, some of them possibly his colleagues in the police. And what of the women? Was Kellocks wife part of it? And who would look after Alysha now, stop her going off the rails? Most of her abusers were dead but there were various cousins and siblings whod profited from her abuse. Ellen vowed to see them into jail. That, together with a possible life sentence for Laurie, would dismantle the Jarrett clan. Peace would reign on the estate for about five minutes.
Sergeant Destry.
McQuarrie stood in her doorway. Sir, she said, standing but not scrambling about it.
Hed come from some function. He was wearing his full dress uniform, with plenty of ribbons and patchesall earned from staying in power, not merit or achievements. She realised from his voice and manner that she was in trouble about something. She didnt know what, but if McQuarrie was the kind of policeman to get such a thrill out of dressing up, hed hate being called away to do actual police work, so she was probably in some deep shit.
Hell of a mess.
Yes, sir.
Unbelievable. He shook his well-combed head. If you hadnt let Jarrett go, this would never have happened.
Ellen flushed. Her old blackness built in her head, a dangerous blind pressure. As I told you, sir, we had nothing to hold him on.
McQuarrie took a step back. He looked very fine in his uniform, if short. I dont like your tone. And whats this I hear about a circle of paedophiles? Tell me its all a huge mistake.
No mistake, sir, and she laid it out for him. She was harsh and careless; she wasnt going to spare him. She also said, I know he was your friend, sir, to see what he would do.
The colour drained from his face. He swallowed and recovered. Is that how you see me? One of them?
She was pretty sure that he wasnt part of Kellocks ring. It had been a useful speculation, though, back when she was afraid and the men around her seemed sly and creepy.
Of course not, sir, she said evenly. But there may be others, and we have to root them out.
She could see him thinking, the murky lights going on in his head. The pressure looming, the top brass and the press and the government leaning on him.
She decided to push it. Oh, another thing, sir, regarding that private lab you hired for our forensic testing. The press are getting wind of their sloppy procedures: shall I refer all calls to your office?
McQuarrie said nothing but sat slackly, his uniform not quite so immaculate now. Ellen sat with him. And then, out in the car park, there was a familiar rattle, an old, tappety British motor.
That would be Hal, she said, beaming at the super. Home.
He must have driven night and day. She felt a little dizzy and apprehensive. Shed left dishes in his sink, and hadnt replenished his stash of office coffee, and the subject of where she would live now hadnt been discussed. At the same time, she felt buoyed by her achievements, and by an old, familiar stirring in the pit of her stomach.