done.
‘Anybody who expects dead bodies to turn up at their convenience should download a transfer form immediately. Anyone?’
Not even Bryant responded. He had a gift for knowing when not to open his mouth.
‘Okay, refresh; our victim is Allan Harris, a forty-five-year-old male who did time for rape. Got out about eighteen months ago and appears to have been clean ever since. He lives on benefits with his elderly mother and hasn’t worked a day since his release.’
‘It was a brutal rape, Guv,’ Bryant offered.
‘I know that.’ She’d read the reports and didn’t need a history lesson. The horrific injuries sustained by his victim had sickened her. Would she shed tears for his loss as a human being? No chance. Would she allow her personal feelings to affect the way she handled the case? Same response. ‘Look folks, he served his time, minimal as it was, and hasn’t blipped on the radar since. Allan Harris isn’t Gandhi and we don’t get to pick our victim. Got it?’
‘Yes, Guv.’
‘Dawson, go talk to taxi drivers, bus drivers, dog walkers and the owner of the pub. See if there was anyone who was particularly vocal about their dislike for Harris. And take Stacey with you, she could do with some air.’
Stacey was truly gifted in I.T. and had always supported the team from behind a computer screen. It was time to expose her to a little more of the outside world. The fact that Stacey looked just a little bit anxious proved to Kim she was making the right call.
Wood and Dawson rose and headed towards the door.
Dawson hung back. ‘Umm … Guv, just wanted to apologise for my crack about sleep.’
‘If I thought you meant it you’d already be on your way home.’
He nodded his understanding and headed out. Dawson was a good detective, but Kim expected more than good. She pushed them hard, believing it made them better officers. Police work didn’t come with a clock card, and any of her team who wanted nothing more than a job could piss off to McDonalds and flip burgers all day.
Bryant waited until they were out of earshot. ‘Don’t we make a good team? Your cool intelligence, my warm demeanour. Your dispassionate analysis, my ability to play nice. Your brains, my beauty.’
Kim grunted. ‘Come on, gorgeous, our press awaits.’
Kim hadn’t called a press conference. She hadn’t needed to. They’d been arriving since four in the morning.
She took a deep breath and nodded before pushing open the double doors.
Reporters and photographers stood in huddles. She recognised a few of the locals from the Express and Star and the free papers. A Central News reporter and a BBC Midlands Today cameraman were sharing something on their mobile phones. A Sky News correspondent was busy texting.
‘Okay, gather round,’ Kim shouted. A bouquet of microphones appeared before her face and tape recorders were activated and thrust forward. God, she hated this.
She nodded at the expectant faces. ‘I’ll just hand you over to DS Bryant who will give you the details so far.’
Kim stood to the side. If Bryant was bewildered by her sudden deference he hid it well and immediately offered his sympathies to the family.
Yeah, bet Woody’s stress ball’s seeing some action now, Kim thought.
‘… Midlands Police Force will do everything within its power to bring this perpetrator to justice. Thank you for your time.’
Kim headed towards the car and Bryant followed.
‘Thanks for that, Guv,’ he grumbled, throwing a Classic Bike magazine onto the back seat.
‘Handled like a true professional, Bryant.’
‘You know Woody is gonna kill you for …’
‘Got the address?’
‘Back to the island at the bottom of Thorns Road but take a left onto Caledonia.’
‘Thanks, TomTom.’
‘Just for info, Guv. I know you didn’t bother going home last night.’
Kim said nothing.
‘About the only thing that does live in your office is a change of clothes and some toiletries.’
‘Gold star,
‘Anybody who expects dead bodies to turn up at their convenience should download a transfer form immediately. Anyone?’
Not even Bryant responded. He had a gift for knowing when not to open his mouth.
‘Okay, refresh; our victim is Allan Harris, a forty-five-year-old male who did time for rape. Got out about eighteen months ago and appears to have been clean ever since. He lives on benefits with his elderly mother and hasn’t worked a day since his release.’
‘It was a brutal rape, Guv,’ Bryant offered.
‘I know that.’ She’d read the reports and didn’t need a history lesson. The horrific injuries sustained by his victim had sickened her. Would she shed tears for his loss as a human being? No chance. Would she allow her personal feelings to affect the way she handled the case? Same response. ‘Look folks, he served his time, minimal as it was, and hasn’t blipped on the radar since. Allan Harris isn’t Gandhi and we don’t get to pick our victim. Got it?’
‘Yes, Guv.’
‘Dawson, go talk to taxi drivers, bus drivers, dog walkers and the owner of the pub. See if there was anyone who was particularly vocal about their dislike for Harris. And take Stacey with you, she could do with some air.’
Stacey was truly gifted in I.T. and had always supported the team from behind a computer screen. It was time to expose her to a little more of the outside world. The fact that Stacey looked just a little bit anxious proved to Kim she was making the right call.
Wood and Dawson rose and headed towards the door.
Dawson hung back. ‘Umm … Guv, just wanted to apologise for my crack about sleep.’
‘If I thought you meant it you’d already be on your way home.’
He nodded his understanding and headed out. Dawson was a good detective, but Kim expected more than good. She pushed them hard, believing it made them better officers. Police work didn’t come with a clock card, and any of her team who wanted nothing more than a job could piss off to McDonalds and flip burgers all day.
Bryant waited until they were out of earshot. ‘Don’t we make a good team? Your cool intelligence, my warm demeanour. Your dispassionate analysis, my ability to play nice. Your brains, my beauty.’
Kim grunted. ‘Come on, gorgeous, our press awaits.’
Kim hadn’t called a press conference. She hadn’t needed to. They’d been arriving since four in the morning.
She took a deep breath and nodded before pushing open the double doors.
Reporters and photographers stood in huddles. She recognised a few of the locals from the Express and Star and the free papers. A Central News reporter and a BBC Midlands Today cameraman were sharing something on their mobile phones. A Sky News correspondent was busy texting.
‘Okay, gather round,’ Kim shouted. A bouquet of microphones appeared before her face and tape recorders were activated and thrust forward. God, she hated this.
She nodded at the expectant faces. ‘I’ll just hand you over to DS Bryant who will give you the details so far.’
Kim stood to the side. If Bryant was bewildered by her sudden deference he hid it well and immediately offered his sympathies to the family.
Yeah, bet Woody’s stress ball’s seeing some action now, Kim thought.
‘… Midlands Police Force will do everything within its power to bring this perpetrator to justice. Thank you for your time.’
Kim headed towards the car and Bryant followed.
‘Thanks for that, Guv,’ he grumbled, throwing a Classic Bike magazine onto the back seat.
‘Handled like a true professional, Bryant.’
‘You know Woody is gonna kill you for …’
‘Got the address?’
‘Back to the island at the bottom of Thorns Road but take a left onto Caledonia.’
‘Thanks, TomTom.’
‘Just for info, Guv. I know you didn’t bother going home last night.’
Kim said nothing.
‘About the only thing that does live in your office is a change of clothes and some toiletries.’
‘Gold star,
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