course, Crombie helped at the trial that put him away.’
Chandri’s audience gave wry smiles. Crombie said apologetically ‘It’s one of those stories where you had to have been there.’ and before Chandri could embarrass either of them further, asked Nathan which station he was from.
‘Uxbridge. I’m hoping to try for undercover, we’ve a huge problems with cannabis farms. That’s why I’m attending today.’
Chandri raised his eyebrows, but Patsy and Heather nodded agreement.
‘It’ll be interesting to see if the prospect of legalisation or decriminalisation is raised.’ Heather said. This time Nathan and Patsy nodded. Crombie liked their optimism, but doubted any ground breaking discussions would take place today. The tannoy pinged, and a voice informed all delegates to begin making their way along the corridor and down the stairs to conference room three.
Nathan, Patsy and Heather rose to their feet, shook hands with Chandri and Crombie who noticed Patsy held onto Chandri’s hand a little longer than necessary, perhaps she wasn’t quite as prim and proper as the A line suit and sensible shoes indicated.
Conference Room Three had tiered cinema style seats so everyone had a clear view of the podium in the middle. Four people sat behind their name placards on a wide steel and chrome desk which must have weighed a ton. A screen hung behind their heads, and Crombie had just time to note only one was in uniform, and the man closest to him had the red nose of a drinker, and must have been at least ninety before the lights dimmed. He stumbled behind Chandri to a back row and found a seat just as introductory music played and the film titles rolled.
‘Showtime!’ Chandri whispered, as they took their seats.
The lasagne verdi resting comfortably in his tummy, Crombie settled back and tried to watch the adventures of a drug addict in rehabilitation, or rather the rehabilitation of a chemical substance abuser, but the early morning start caught up with him. He intended to rest his eyes for only five minutes, but jerked awake with a start to find the film had finished, the lights were back on and speeches were being made. He nudged Chandri dozing beside him.
‘Wha’d I miss?’ Chandri asked.
‘Nothing much.’ Crombie said ‘The Big Wigs’ speech on how we can combat crime together. Usual stuff.’
The floor opened up for a question and answer session. Crombie clamped his lips together, it seemed everyone agreed with him: “Let’s keep quiet and we’ll get out early.”
‘Come on now, someone must have a point of view on this?’ The Assistant Chief Constable said, a touch of annoyance in his voice. ‘Yes you there? What’s your name?’
Several rows in front of Crombie and half a dozen seats to the left, a head bobbed up, and Crombie recognised the mannish hair cut of Heather Clack.
‘Since Portugal decriminalised registered drug addicts, and other countries, notably Mexico have followed suit, does the Home Office have any plans to legalise drugs, or at least decriminalise registered addicts?’
Crombie brightened, and mentally got the popcorn ready. The nonagenarian opened his mouth, but the Assistant Chief Constable answered for him after a speedy consultation with his assistant.
‘Thank you for raising this issue. If you’d like to ring my secretary to make an appointment after this conference, I’ll gladly discuss your theories with you.' His gaze shifted dismissively. 'Now moving on.’
‘Let’s discuss it now.’ A glance at Chandri’s face confirmed the voice belonged to Patsy.
Crombie saw the advisor’s lips move again. With a satisfied smirk the Chief Constable said ‘Thank you Acting Sergeant Wilson. Your ... fervour on this matter has been noted, and one of my aides will be in contact with you shortly. Now unless anyone else has any objections, I’d like to move on.’
Apart from one or two muttered ‘Shame’ no-one rushed to be singled out.
But the
Chandri’s audience gave wry smiles. Crombie said apologetically ‘It’s one of those stories where you had to have been there.’ and before Chandri could embarrass either of them further, asked Nathan which station he was from.
‘Uxbridge. I’m hoping to try for undercover, we’ve a huge problems with cannabis farms. That’s why I’m attending today.’
Chandri raised his eyebrows, but Patsy and Heather nodded agreement.
‘It’ll be interesting to see if the prospect of legalisation or decriminalisation is raised.’ Heather said. This time Nathan and Patsy nodded. Crombie liked their optimism, but doubted any ground breaking discussions would take place today. The tannoy pinged, and a voice informed all delegates to begin making their way along the corridor and down the stairs to conference room three.
Nathan, Patsy and Heather rose to their feet, shook hands with Chandri and Crombie who noticed Patsy held onto Chandri’s hand a little longer than necessary, perhaps she wasn’t quite as prim and proper as the A line suit and sensible shoes indicated.
Conference Room Three had tiered cinema style seats so everyone had a clear view of the podium in the middle. Four people sat behind their name placards on a wide steel and chrome desk which must have weighed a ton. A screen hung behind their heads, and Crombie had just time to note only one was in uniform, and the man closest to him had the red nose of a drinker, and must have been at least ninety before the lights dimmed. He stumbled behind Chandri to a back row and found a seat just as introductory music played and the film titles rolled.
‘Showtime!’ Chandri whispered, as they took their seats.
The lasagne verdi resting comfortably in his tummy, Crombie settled back and tried to watch the adventures of a drug addict in rehabilitation, or rather the rehabilitation of a chemical substance abuser, but the early morning start caught up with him. He intended to rest his eyes for only five minutes, but jerked awake with a start to find the film had finished, the lights were back on and speeches were being made. He nudged Chandri dozing beside him.
‘Wha’d I miss?’ Chandri asked.
‘Nothing much.’ Crombie said ‘The Big Wigs’ speech on how we can combat crime together. Usual stuff.’
The floor opened up for a question and answer session. Crombie clamped his lips together, it seemed everyone agreed with him: “Let’s keep quiet and we’ll get out early.”
‘Come on now, someone must have a point of view on this?’ The Assistant Chief Constable said, a touch of annoyance in his voice. ‘Yes you there? What’s your name?’
Several rows in front of Crombie and half a dozen seats to the left, a head bobbed up, and Crombie recognised the mannish hair cut of Heather Clack.
‘Since Portugal decriminalised registered drug addicts, and other countries, notably Mexico have followed suit, does the Home Office have any plans to legalise drugs, or at least decriminalise registered addicts?’
Crombie brightened, and mentally got the popcorn ready. The nonagenarian opened his mouth, but the Assistant Chief Constable answered for him after a speedy consultation with his assistant.
‘Thank you for raising this issue. If you’d like to ring my secretary to make an appointment after this conference, I’ll gladly discuss your theories with you.' His gaze shifted dismissively. 'Now moving on.’
‘Let’s discuss it now.’ A glance at Chandri’s face confirmed the voice belonged to Patsy.
Crombie saw the advisor’s lips move again. With a satisfied smirk the Chief Constable said ‘Thank you Acting Sergeant Wilson. Your ... fervour on this matter has been noted, and one of my aides will be in contact with you shortly. Now unless anyone else has any objections, I’d like to move on.’
Apart from one or two muttered ‘Shame’ no-one rushed to be singled out.
But the
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