Murder in Montego Bay
Page 28
“So you don’t think we have any cause for concern?” pressed the deputy.
“Everything has been fully laid-out in ma reports for ye, sir.” Harris stretched over the desk and picked up a sheet of paper. “Listen: ‘He demonstrates an outstanding level of proficiency at tasks requiring investigative skills.’ And aye, I did take it from the textbook because it’s an accurate representation. There isnae much I can add.”
The commissioner ran his fingers down the paperwork in front of him. “Here you say: ‘At first I was unsure about the subject’s interview techniques when dealing with fellow officers.’ Would you like to elaborate?”
“I did further on, sir. Ye’ll see I said it was firm but effective, ‘displaying mental agility with outstanding analytical skills’ is what’s written there. Also ‘is open and honest, demonstrating considerable integrity and high ethical standards.’”
“What about his team? What was the interaction like particularly with the female officers?” The deputy took a sip from his glass and licked his lips.
“He has earned their respect, sir. It’s a ‘harmonious work environment’ as I say here. They listen, make valid suggestions and take directions. He hasnae been overly familiar with anyone. All in all there is a very good dynamic within the team. In fact I think he could teach other people a thing or two.”
The commissioner looked thoughtful. “Is there anything else you think we should know?”
If ye cut out the champagne and the soirées ye could fix the CCTV and upgrade the office furniture. “Naw, sir.”
“We thank you for your efforts, Detective.” Commissioner Davis reached over the desk and shook Harris’s hand.
Harris nodded at the deputy and stood to leave the room. “Ye have a very valuable asset on the force, sir, and ye need tae keep him.”
As Harris closed the door and started down the corridor, Preddy stepped out of the shadows and stood opposite him.
“Dat took a while, Detective Harris. I thought you were on de way to de canteen?”
Harris looked momentarily embarrassed. “Um, aye. I got distracted.”
“Davis and his sidekick are some distraction. Is dere anything you want to tell me?”
Harris sighed. “Ye’ll hear about it soon enough, naw doubt.”
“Now is soon enough for me.”
The door opened again and the commissioner put out his head. “Ah, I thought I heard your voice, Detective Preddy.” He turned and muttered something to his deputy, before reappearing and smiling brightly. “Come in, Detective, we need to have a chat.”
*
Harris took a mouthful of cold beer and admired the bottle before placing it back on the bar. “That’s good local stuff. I’m impressed.”
“Wait till you try our special tea,” said Preddy.
“What special tea?” asked Harris, taking another long swig.
Preddy smiled and stared at his own half-empty bottle. “Pace yourself.”
“I can handle it, ye dinnae need tae worry.”
“You cannot even handle Spence and Rabino, let alone beer!”
Harris grimaced. “Aye, ye noticed then. I thought Spence was sure tae shoot me. Accidentally, of course. And I knew Rabino was giving me plenty of deadly looks beneath those long lashes.”
“She hides things well,” Preddy chuckled. “Dey are very loyal. You’ll never know how many times I had to have pep talks wid dem when you took over.”
“Ye know they really believed ye were up tae naw good, the bosses I mean.”
“De commissioner hinted as much, although knowing him I didn’t get half de picture.”
“Naw, I’m sure you didnae,” Harris said. “If ye hadnae pulled this off I’m sure they would have sacked ye, then told me ma work was done and I could go back tae Glasgow.”
Preddy laughed, relief apparent in his shining eyes. “It was a close call. De media would have thought all deir Christmases came at once.”
“It’s the image problem that’s scaring them,” explained Harris. “They’re looking for the rogue leaders at the top and that’s where ye came in unfortunately, especially after Norwood. Ye can see where they’re coming from though. Even in Scotland there’s a suspicion that we’ve got people at the top teaching the younger ones how tae get away with cutting corners and ignoring the law.”
“I know,” said Preddy. “INDECOM cleared me and de public supported me by and large. What happened was tragic, but I have never and could never work against my badge.”
Harris nodded and beckoned to the barman to bring more beers.
“Sometimes I see de men, you know... in my sleep.”
Harris looked at Preddy closely. “Counselling is nae a dirty word, sir.”
The detective’s eyes twinkled. “You forget you don’t have to call me ‘sir’ anymore. You don’t have to call me ‘asshole’ either, though.”
Harris winced. “Ye should have knocked me out!”
“You don’t know how close I came to it. You really don’t.”
“Ye have tae believe me I am sorry about that.”
Preddy allowed himself to laugh out loud. “Well, I was being one! You didn’t lie.”
Harris laughed too and clinked his newly-arrived beer bottle against Preddy’s.
“Seriously though, ye should talk tae someone, someone independent. It’s nae easy tae talk tae family and friends about things like death. I know it from personal experience.”
“You’ve been involved in a shootout where someone died?”
“Naw, it wasnae a shootout but someone died alright.” Harris wiped his lips. “About a year ago. Some drunken fool drove his car right off the road and in tae the station, took out all the glass and ploughed through the desks. I mean this guy must have been airborne at the speed of light. Ye have never heard such a noise! We all thought it was a terrorist attack. I was absolutely petrified. He missed killing a group of us by about a metre and ended up breaking his own neck.”
“Man, dat must have been some shock.”
“I couldnae talk tae anyone. I didnae want tae go tae counselling. Fought against it for months on end, but when I finally did... man, it was good tae talk. I still think about it sometimes, see his snapped neck, but ma nerves are all in one piece again and I can certainly sleep.”
Preddy nodded. “You’re right, I know. Valerie has told me as much too. I’ll talk to de superintendent about it.”
“Ye’ll get anything ye want now ye know, Golden Boy. Ye saved the government millions that they would have had tae pay out for Lester’s fake lawsuit.” Harris grinned. “I suggest ye put in for a five-star holiday in Hawaii and do it quickly. They wouldnae say naw.”
“I need it. Is two year now I don’t take a holiday, too much work. You know how it is.”
“Aye, but the truth is the crime will always be here naw matter what we do. We have tae take a break from it sometimes.”
“True. I tell myself dat every time I take de day off to rest or take de kids out,” Preddy said. “It should be depressing. Sometimes it is, but I just can’t imagine doing another job.”
“Me neither.”
“We are strange people.” Both men laughed.
“Ye wouldn’t happen tae fancy a stint in Glasgow by any chance?”
“No occasion could be special enough to get me in a skirt.”
Harris smiled and his green eyes shone. “Never mind the skirt. We have night vision goggles, helicopters and plenty of officers. We dinnae have mosquitoes.”
Preddy smiled. “You got used to de mosquitoes in de end though.”
“Och naw, I can assure ye there ain’t naw getting used tae the little buggers. I got bitten from head tae toe in the mountains last night.”
“You never said anything.”
“I was really going tae say in front of Spence and Rabino that I was being eaten by mosquitoes? We’re all racing along, guns drawn, hunting a murderer and I’m going tae stop and say ‘pass the bug spray!’ Spence would have r
ightly shot me!”
The two men laughed heartily. Harris dabbed his eyes with his handkerchief and wiped the perspiration from his brow.
“So, definitely naw chance of a placement in Glasgow for ye then?”
“Dat cold place? Not at dis time, thank you, sir!” said Preddy with a mock shudder.
“If I can put up with ye heat, ye can put up with our snow.”
“Well, Sean Harris, you are a better man dan me,” said Preddy, draining his bottle. “But don’t tell de Super I said so.”
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to the great Jacaranda team—publisher Valerie Brandes, editor Laure Deprez, Commercial Director, Cynthia Hamilton and especially to the original champion of my work, Publicity Manager, Jazzmine Breary. It can be said of Jacaranda “Dem likkle but dem tallawah”.
To those who were always ready with sound words of advice or encouragement, I thank you: Virginia Bailey Plowright, Doreen Bailey, Elaine (Pat) Harris Cunningham, Carol Harris Simpson, Sharon Thompson, Gwendolyn Thompson and Juliet (Lavern) Ingram Reid.
And, because you never forget great teachers, I thank those who were dedicated to the cause at Clarendon College, Chapelton, and those who still are. Perstare et praestare.
About the Author
PAULA LENNON is the sixth and last child, and only girl, born to Jamaican parents in the West Midlands, England. Paula lived in Jamaica, West Indies during her teens and attended high school in Chapelton. Once back in England, Paula worked for many years as a commercial lawyer in London, before deciding to live where the weather was more conducive to smiling. She currently resides in Jamaica, where she is always actively plotting, writing, and being distracted by the Caribbean Sea. Murder in Montego Bay is her debut novel.
Table of Contents
Title
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Acknowledgements
About the Author