by Salkeld, J J
Andy Hall was feeling pretty relaxed, which for him was about as good as it ever got, even on holiday. Spring was in the air, and Ian Mann had called him in the early hours to say that he’d got home safely. Hall decided to give him a few hours before he called back, let the bloke get a bit of well-earned rest. So he had breakfast with the kids, and was just about to leave for work when Jane called. She needed to see him urgently, outside the office.
‘Have you looked at your email this morning Andy?’
‘No, I was saving that daily pleasure until I got to the office for once. Why?’
‘The Super has really gone off on one. It’s about me talking to Lillian Hill.’
‘But you haven’t been.’
‘I’m afraid I have.’
Hall felt his good mood vanishing as fast as early morning mist.
‘I’ll see you at the George cafe in ten minutes’ he said. That might give him time to calm down, but he doubted it.
The cafe was quiet, and when Hall arrived Jane was still there, sitting at a window table with a couple of teas. It didn’t take long for her to tell Hall what she’d done. But he had already read Robinson’s email, so he knew most of it already.
‘So you did snoop on the congregation of a bloody church of all things, then accused Lillian Hill of having an affair with Tony Harrison, and capped it all with an unauthorised PNC check on his car?’
‘Yes, I did. I’m really sorry it’s caused so much trouble. I wasn’t expecting it at all. But on the up-side we do know that Lillian was having an affair with Tony, even though she’s denying it.’
‘But where does that take us though Jane? Precisely nowhere. Presumably she’s denying it because Jesus wants her for a sunbeam, as Kurt Cobain definitely didn’t say. And even if we accept that she has a motive now we know that she can’t have done it, because point one Butterworth didn’t see anyone else around after it happened, and point two don’t you think that Vicky Harrison would have grassed Lillian Hill right up, if Lillian had just tipped Tony over the side? Can you see any reason why Vicky would want to protect Lillian, or vice-versa come to that?’
‘You’re right, Andy, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.’
‘It really better hadn’t.’
‘So you’re going to tell Robinson it was me, acting without any authority? It’s all totally my fault.’
Hall put down his tea a bit too hard, and some splashed onto the plasticised checked tablecloth.
‘What do you take me for Jane? Of course I’m not going to do that. I’m going to tell his holiness that you were following my orders, and that we’re actively looking at Lillian Hill. So when we get back to the office I need to get those three interviews properly written up and on the system, OK?’
Jane nodded.
‘What will Robinson do?’
‘Well I hear there’s a vacancy for a crossing assistance operative in Ulverston, but he’ll probably think that’s too cushy. Look, he’s going to be seriously pissed off, we’ve got to be ready for that, and I totally understand why that is too. Because I’m going to tell him that even though he trusts me and has supported me I’ve just gone behind his back, and done what he asked me not to do. You do see why I’d sympathise with that position, don’t you Jane? It’s really not on I’m afraid.’
She looked close to tears, and Hall knew he’d made his point. The advantage of being as mild-mannered and polite as Hall was that people usually took notice if he expressed even mild disappointment, let alone irritation.
‘Right, rant over’ he said. ‘I forgive you my child.’ She smiled weakly. ‘Now, before we go back and I face the music let’s have a quick chat about where we go from here with this case.’
Jane nodded eagerly. This was more like it.
‘We know that Lillian was having an affair with Tony now, so where does that take us?’
Jane shrugged. ‘Like you say I can’t see how it connects to his death at all.’
‘Nor can I, at least not yet. So let’s try a different question. Could it be that the three of them all being up there at the same time wasn’t actually a co-incidence at all?’
‘I’ve been thinking about that too’ said Jane.
‘And?’
‘Nothing really. I just had one idea, but it’s stupid really.’
‘Go on. It won’t be the first stupid idea you’ve had recently.’
Jane checked that Hall was smiling as he’d said it. He was.
‘How about this then? What if Lillian was jealous of Vicky, and had started stalking them. So maybe she followed them up there.’
Hall nodded, and thought about what Jane had said. He had a picture of it in his head, which was usually a good sign.
‘But didn’t she say that Vicky and John had passed her while she was eating her lunch?’
‘Yes, she did. But maybe it was actually the other way round.’
Hall nodded. ‘Yes, OK, that’s plausible. So where would it take us if that was the case? I still can’t see it.’
They sat and finished their teas in silence.
Hall had never seen Robinson really angry; the closest was after Val Gorham had left. He’d heard that Robinson had lost it completely on another occasion, a couple of years previously, when there’d been a rumour that Superintendents would lose their allocated parking spaces at stations, but it had come to nothing. And when Hall knocked on Robinson’s office door there was a yawningly long pause before he said ‘come in.’
Hall had already decided that the best way of minimising the damage was to behave very formally, so he more or less marched in to Robinson’s office, and stood, very nearly at attention. It had been a good decision. Robinson seemed to be reading something in a file very carefully, and eventually he closed it.
‘Inspector Hall’ he said slowly, as if about to pronounce sentence. ‘I understand that your officer, DC Francis, has spoken to Lillian Hill, accusing her of having an affair with the late Tony Harrison.’
‘She had information to that effect sir.’
‘No Inspector, she did not. She had information suggesting that Tony was having an affair, some of which came from me but which I note is not recorded here. But what DC Francis has done is combine that with the fact that Tony Harrison was seen at Lillian Hill’s house on occasion, and drawn an entirely incorrect inference.’
Hall said nothing.
‘Lillian Hill was not having an affair with Tony Harrison.’
‘I see sir. Can you elaborate?’
‘I don’t have the slightest need to, but I will. I have spoken to Ms. Hill myself, and she confirmed that Mr. Harrison visited her to discuss Church-related matters. She was extremely upset, not just about DC Francis’ groundless accusation, but also about her attitude.’
Hall didn’t bite. He didn’t have to, because Robinson seemed to be far from finished.
‘Sneering she called it. Sneering and condescending.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. Would you like me to arrange for DC Francis to visit Ms. Hill?’
‘No, that’s the last thing I want you to do. You’re to stay well away from Ms. Hill.’
‘But what if we need to talk to her again sir?’
Robinson took his time before replying.
‘That has to be extremely unlikely Inspector. But in that eventuality then I want to be there personally. Is that understood?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Robinson paused, and looked up at Hall.
‘Sit down Andy. This isn’t a disciplinary.’
‘Thank you sir.’
‘Now tell me this, and be absolutely honest. Did you ask Jane Francis to interview Lillian, or did she make that decision?’
‘It was my instruction sir.’
‘In direct contravention of my order?’
‘Yes, sir.’
There was a long pause, followed immediately by another.
‘I don’t believe you Andy. I’m sorry to have to say that, but I don’t.’
Hall said nothing. He couldn’t see the point in repeating a statement that they both knew to be false.
‘Why do I say I don’t believe you? Because it would have been completely out of character. I don’t doubt that if you felt that you needed to put these boundless accusations to Lillian Hill you would have done so, but I also believe that you would have talked to me first. You can be arrogant, and I have no doubt that you regard yourself as the brightest officer in this station, perhaps even with good reason, but you’re also a courteous man Andy.’
‘Thank you sir.’
‘But you’re lying to me now, and I won’t have it. Now, admit it. Jane Francis has exceeded her authority in this case.’
‘As I said sir, she was acting on my orders.’
Robinson picked up his silver propelling pencil, then put it down again.
‘I see. So that’s how you want it? Well, so be it. You know there’s a lot that’s positive about the culture that exists in this station, and in hundreds of others up and down the country. But the way that officers still insist on closing ranks at the first sign of trouble is entirely, absolutely unacceptable in this day and age. We simply have to be more open and transparent. I wouldn’t have you down as a dinosaur Andy, but it seems that underneath it all you’re as unreconstructed as the worst of them. And I won’t have it, because the cover-up culture is not only a cause of corruption, it’s also a kind of corruption in itself.’ Robinson paused. ‘But it doesn’t matter anyway.’
‘How do you mean sir?’
‘Because I am recommending to the Chief Constable that Jane Francis be returned to uniformed duties forthwith. She’ll receive formal notification in a few days.’
‘I can’t possibly support that sir. Jane has the makings of an outstanding detective.’
‘For once in your life you’re going to have to accept that what you think doesn’t matter Inspector. I’ve already told the Chief to expect a written submission from you on the matter, accusing me of showing personal bias in this matter, and referring to our earlier conversations.’
‘I see.’
‘And there’s one other matter that I want to clear up now. It’s slightly delicate.’
‘Yes sir?’
‘It’s about you and DC Francis. I just wanted to check that there’s no other reason why you might be so keen to defend her? Because if there is we’re looking at an entirely different situation here.’
‘Like what sir?’ Either Robinson could spell it out, or he could back down. Robinson thought for a moment, and made his decision.
‘Well, that’s all until your next performance appraisal Inspector. I suggest you break the news to Constable Francis immediately.’
Hall did as he was told. Jane started crying, as he’d expected, and Hall felt in his pocket for a fresh tissue. He was relieved to find one.
Jane blew her nose noisily. ‘So you told him that I acted independently then.’
‘No, I did what I said I’d do. I told him that you acted strictly on my order, but he doesn’t believe me. He said that he didn’t doubt that I would have interviewed Lillian Hill again if I’d wanted to, but that I would have talked to him about it first. And he’s not wrong Jane, that is what I probably would have done.’
Jane had stopped crying completely now.
‘Really, you didn’t grass me up?’
‘Of course I didn’t. I said I wouldn’t, and I didn’t. I’ll write to the Chief and make it clear that I believe that Robinson has a personal interest in the matter, but he’s already told me that it will get me nowhere because he’s already grassed himself up on that. But I’ll try anyway, and I do hope that you believe me, Jane. I’d never chuck you to the lions, or even Superintendent Robinson.’
‘Of course I believe you Andy.’ She looked as if she meant it. Then she got up, walked round the desk and kissed him on the cheek. He was glad he’d closed his office door, and even more glad that Jane was already on her way out of his office before he could react. He had absolutely no idea what to say.
‘I bet you wouldn’t have been so brave with Val Gorham’ said Jane from the door.
‘Too right. You’d have been on your own then.’
He heard Jane laughing as she walked back to her desk.
Friday, 15th March
Ian Mann was glad that he didn’t have yet another face-to-face with Gory Gorham and Superintendent Robinson. He’d gathered from Hall when they spoke on the phone that the trucks they’d used for the job had come from David Cartmel’s firm, and that the total value of the cattle they’d stolen was well over thirty thousand pounds.
‘When I spoke to the stockman this morning he says that whoever took those cows knew exactly what they were doing’ said Hall. ‘Hand picked were the words he used. Quite admiring of your handiwork he was Ian.’
‘I can’t claim any credit Andy. They all look the same, and smell the same, to me. Just a lot of steaks still on the hoof.’
‘Talking to Robinson this morning I don’t think they’re keen on letting Brockbank run much further. He’s costing the insurers a fortune, so they’re kicking off, and it doesn’t look as if he’d going to take us anywhere else. Do you agree?’
‘Mebbe. But we can’t nick Brockbank until we’re ready to get Spedding too. We know they’re connected, at least via Fraser and probably in other ways too. You know what this place is like, all the serious villains seem to know each other. They must have a club house somewhere, the bastards.’
Hall laughed. ‘Agreed, we should wait. I wonder when Spedding will come back with this next job? I must admit it does sound intriguing, but maybe he’s just a tease.’
‘It’ll be anytime now I’d have thought.’ Mann’s other phone was ringing. ‘That’s Brockbank, I’d better go. I’ll call you back later.’
Mann rang off, and said hello to Ben.
‘Hi marrer, what you are on with today?’
‘Nothing really. What have you got in mind?’ Mann found himself hoping that whatever it was it wouldn’t expose Brockbank to any further charges.
‘I’m going up to my parent’s place, take a walk round. Wondered if you wanted to join me, now that you’re getting so involved in the farming job.’
Mann laughed. ‘The driving and thieving job, more like.’
‘Aye, but not a word of that in front of my folks, OK? It would destroy my old man if he knew. I told him last year that I wouldn’t be taking the place on when he stops, because there’s no living in it any more, and I thought that would finish him off. But now he seems to be planning to keep carrying on working until he drops.’
‘You’re trying to persuade him otherwise?’
‘Aye, mainly for me mum’s sake. But he’s a stubborn old bugger, so I doubt he’ll listen. Typical farmer, eh?’
‘So what time, and where?’
‘Come round about fourish. My mum makes a fantastic hotpot, and we can take a walk first. My wife and the kid are off to the cinema, so I’ll be all on my tod later on.’
Mann noted down the farm’s address, and rang off. Then he looked at the aerial shot of the farm on his tablet, and he could see a tractor in the yard, with two men loading a trailer. Maybe that was Brockbank junior and senior. It might have been a smudge on the screen, but he thought he could see a couple of farm dogs in the yard too. Mann sat and looked at the image for a long time. It was just a moment in time, one that told a story of hard graft and commitment to a family, a way of life and a place that went back decades, and probably much longer. No wonder Ben’s old man was so desperate to hang on up on those Pennine hills.
It was a glorious spring day, and the last thing that Mann wanted to do was spend his lunchtime in the pub, but he had a feeling that Spedding might be in there. He was dead right, and when he’d got his drink and sat down with the paper he noticed Spedding beckoning to him from his usual table, right in the darkest corner of the pub. Mann put down his paper, took a leisurely sip of his drink and then sauntered over.
‘
I hear your girlfriend is out of hospital. Told you, it were just a tap.’
‘Yeh right Joey. Are we on for this high-wire act of yours, or what?’
‘We’re on. Monday night, late. You’ll be collected.’
‘Any kit you need me to bring? Climbing stuff?’
‘Nah, it’s all sorted. Just don’t forget your head for heights.’
Mann nodded, and walked back to his own table. He found himself staring at the front page of the Cumberland News, wondering why he suddenly felt so uncomfortable. And it only took him a fraction of a second to realise: it was because Spedding was providing the climbing gear. Mann forced himself not to think about that, and forced himself to read the paper as he sipped his pint.
When he left the pub Mann went and bought some flowers for Brockbank’s mother, then wondered if he’d done the right thing. Maybe she was sick of the sight of nature. And because his own mother had died when he was a child Mann was never quite sure what the mums of adult children would like. But before he left Carlisle he peeled the price label off, or as much of it as he could, and put the flowers in the footwell behind the driver’s seat.
He found the farm easily enough, and by the time he’d parked in the yard Ben Brockbank was already pulling on his boots by the back door. The farmhouse was a proper picture-postcard job, and looked as if it had been there forever, but even from a distance Mann could see that it needed plenty of work. The slate roof was covered in pins, and the windows looked rotten.
‘Got your boots?’ asked Brockbank as Mann got out of the car, watching where he stepped. He said he had, and walked round to the back of the car to put them on.
‘Fancy a cuppa now, or shall we walk the farm, while it’s still light?’
‘Let’s walk now Ben. It’ll be too dark after.’
Brockbank led the way, crossing fields and gradually climbing higher. Even up here Mann could see the first signs of spring everywhere.
