Pop Goes the Weasel | страница 123

‘It’s a tough investigation, Ma’am. She’s a clever and a resourceful kill-’

‘All we’ve had for our money is a slew of negative headlines, which is why the commissioner has asked for an internal review of the investigation.’

So this was a new front. Had he asked or had Harwood led him to it? Helen’s blood boiled, but she said nothing.

‘I know you have experience in this area and that the team are – by and large – loyal to you, but your methods are irregular and costly -’

‘With the greatest of respect, four people are dead -’

‘Three.’

‘That’s fucking semantics. We all know Booker’s dead.’

‘It may be semantics, Inspector, but it says so much about you. You rush to judgement. Right from the off you’ve wanted this to be about Helen Grace chasing another serial killer. That’s the only narrative you know, isn’t it? Well, I think it’s misguided, unprofessional and dangerous. We have budgets, protocols and targets that cannot be ridden over roughshod.’

‘And what’s your target, Ceri? Chief Super? Chief Constable? Police Commissioner?’

‘Watch your tongue, Inspector.’

‘I’ve met people like you before. Never do the work, but always on hand to take the glory.’

Harwood leaned back in her chair. She was clearly livid but refused to show it.

‘Tread very carefully, DI Grace. And consider this an official warning. You’re a gnat’s breath away from getting taken off this investigation. Bring her in or step aside. Is that clear?’

Helen left soon after. One thing was crystal clear. As long as Harwood was around, she was on borrowed time.

It was getting dark now, but that would only add atmosphere to the composition. The low light, the grainy image would help capture the feel Emilia was going for. By rights she should have asked for one of their regular snappers to come with her, but she knew how to operate a digital SLR as well as the next man and there was no way she was letting anybody else in on this story until she had the whole package.

Adrian Fielding had been remarkably helpful, once he’d realized Emilia would happily destroy his career if she didn’t get what she wanted. The file on Robert Stonehill began in undramatic fashion, a pitiful list of his recent minor misdemeanours, but got much more interesting once Emilia discovered he’d been adopted. There were scant details of his biological mother in the main file, but it was obvious enough that he’d been born in a prison hospital. As soon as she’d discovered this Emilia knew who he was – Helen Grace had only truly cared for one person – but being a good journalist she’d cross-referenced Robert’s age with the date of Marianne’s arrest. After that it was a short step to Marianne’s arrest sheet and the jigsaw was complete.