Dying Fall by Sally Spencer

Marlowe’s really got his finger on the pulse of the Whitebridge Police.’
    â€˜I don’t appreciate sarcasm, Mr Woodend,’ Lowry said.
    â€˜Sarcasm?’ Woodend repeated innocently.
    â€˜I know what
you
think of Mr Marlowe, and whilst you could not expect me to openly agree with you, I assume you’ve also noted that I’m not exactly defending him, either.’
    Well, well, well, there was a turn-up for the books, Woodend thought. Marlowe’s one real talent was impressing his superiors, and in Lowry’s case, he seemed to have failed completely. So maybe there was more to the councillor than met the eye.
    â€˜Sorry,’ he said. ‘I’ll cut out the sarcasm from now on.’
    â€˜Good,’ Lowry said crisply. ‘Now let’s get down to business, shall we? I’ve been looking at these overtime requests that you’ve submitted, and they really are outrageous, you know.’
    â€˜I disagree,’ Woodend said. ‘There’s some kind of nutter on the loose out there, so the streets have to be patrolled.’
    â€˜You don’t actually know whether or not he’s going to strike again, do you?’ Lowry asked.
    â€˜I know,’ Woodend said firmly.
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜I can feel it.’
    Lowry laughed. ‘That would be the famous Woodend “gut feeling”, would it? I’ve heard about that.’
    â€˜Then you’ll also have heard that it rarely lets me down.’
    â€˜Interesting that you should use the word “rarely”,’ Lowry mused. ‘I take that to mean that this gut instinct of yours is not
quite
as infallible as you sometimes like to give the impression it is.’
    â€˜It’s failed me a few times,’ Woodend admitted.
    â€˜And even if your feeling is correct, there’s no saying that the killer will strike again tonight, is there? He might wait a week. Or a month. Or even a year.’
    â€˜It won’t be as long as a month,’ Woodend said.
    â€˜That’s something else you just
know
, is it?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Then let’s say that he waits three weeks. Do you expect to keep all that extra manpower on the streets for a whole three weeks?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    Lowry shook his head. ‘It simply can’t be done,’ he said. ‘The ratepayers would never stand for it. They elected me to reduce the rates, not drive them up to new record highs.’
    â€˜And, of course, there are municipal elections coming up soon,’ Woodend mused.
    â€˜What exactly are you suggesting?’ Lowry asked angrily.
    â€˜I’m suggestin’ there’s municipal elections comin’ up soon,’ Woodend replied.
    â€˜I want to keep police costs down,’ Lowry said. ‘I can do that without your help, but it would be easier if you co­operated.’
    â€˜What you really mean is that your committee might think twice about takin’ the course of action you were recommendin’ if I was known to be strongly opposed to it.’
    â€˜Well, exactly,’ Lowry said, as if he were pleased that the rather slow chief inspector had finally grasped the point. ‘It would certainly be to your advantage to work with me, instead of against me.’
    â€˜Would it?’ Woodend asked, and those who knew him well would have detected the dangerous edge creeping into his voice. ‘In what way?’
    â€˜For starters, it would ensure that you kept your job.’
    â€˜You mean that if I don’t become your monkey, you’ll get me fired?’
    Lowry laughed. ‘No, no, Chief Inspector, you’ve got things completely the wrong way round. It’s that fool Marlowe who wants to get you fired, but he wouldn’t dare push for it if I were on your side. Now wouldn’t you like to have that kind of protection?’
    Woodend shrugged. ‘I’ve put in a good few years’ service. I could live off my pension