‘Or he was poking around there, the same as we were.’ Caelan was frowning, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. ‘Where were the prints found?’
‘The bedroom you went in, Bailey said.’ Achebe met Caelan’s eyes, his face grim. ‘Rainey’s prints were discovered on the top of the headboard. His right hand. They’re surmising he was standing by the bed and leant on it.’
‘One of the first-floor rooms, not up on the second floor where the girls were.’ Caelan pressed her palms to her cheeks. What did this mean? She’d wondered if Rainey had been doing some off-the-record detecting, but was this proof? ‘We need to find out what he was doing there,’ she said.
Achebe’s smile was forced. ‘They’re already on it. There’s CCTV, but it’s going to take some time. We’ve no idea when he was there.’
‘Is it worth asking his parents?’ Jen Somerville suggested. ‘I doubt he told them anything about it, but you never know.’
‘Or his younger brother,’ Caelan said. ‘Remember, he shared a room with Ben. Joseph probably knew more about what he might have been up to than anyone. I think we should speak to Mrs Rainey again too. When I saw her, I thought… Well, it’s possible she didn’t tell me everything.’
Achebe nodded. ‘Jen and I will brief our team.’ He checked his watch. ‘I need to go.’
‘Who’s doing the interview with Aaron Jacob?’ Caelan asked.
‘Not you,’ Penrith told her.
‘I didn’t expect to, but I’d like to observe.’
‘Why? How could doing so possibly help you gather information about the drugs trade in Edmonton?’ Penrith tipped his head to the side, stuck out his chin.
‘I—’
‘It couldn’t.’
‘Come on, Ian. Three men are dead. Wouldn’t Nicky and I be more use here, on the investigative team?’
Penrith pushed himself backwards, the wheels of his desk chair clicking, and lumbered to his feet. ‘No. Jackson Hobbs being jailed gave someone in Edmonton the opportunity to move into his shoes. Go and find out who it is. When we know, I’m guessing we’ll also know the identity of the person who killed Rainey and Bryce, and ordered the murder of Hobbs himself.’
Achebe shot Caelan an apologetic look. ‘Have to say, I agree with Ian,’ he said. ‘If we’re going to find answers, Edmonton is the obvious place to look.’
‘Apart from at Aaron Jacob? He must know who hired him, if that’s what happened.’ Caelan folded her arms, knowing she had no choice. They’d never allow her to speak to the Rainey family again, or to Aaron Jacob. Best to let them think they had won for now. ‘All right. What about Frankie Hamilton?’
Penrith was in the doorway, straightening his tie. ‘What about him?’
‘We’re agreed I should contact him, tell him about the attack on me last night?’
‘Yes, give him a call. Hopefully he’ll mention it later in his interview,’ said Penrith. ‘We’ll delay it until this afternoon, tell him we’re dragging everyone from Edmonton who knew Hobbs in for questioning. You’ll make sure he’s asked about Aaron Jacob, Tim, won’t you?’
‘Jen will be conducting the interview,’ Achebe replied. Somerville was already nodding her head.
‘Could we be updated this afternoon?’ Caelan glanced at Nicky. ‘I’d like to know what Frankie Hamilton says about the attempt to run him over. It could be unrelated to our cases, after all. Maybe an old enemy heard he was free and decided to take a potshot at him.’
Penrith was halfway out of the door. ‘I’ll call you later. You too, Nicky. Now go and get us some answers.’
* * *
On the pavement outside, Caelan stood for a moment staring across the Thames towards the London Eye, slowly revolving against the murky grey sky. She heard footsteps behind her, and began to turn as a hand was placed on her shoulder.
‘Caelan.’ Nicky’s voice was hesitant. Stepping away, Caelan frowned at her.
‘We shouldn’t be seen together,’ she said.
Nicky screwed up her face. ‘Can we talk? Please? Get a coffee?’
‘What? You know we can’t.’ Caelan ignored the ache in her chest when she saw Nicky’s forlorn expression. ‘We’re colleagues, Nicky,’ she made herself say. ‘That’s all.’
Nicky met her eyes. ‘I know you’re angry, you feel betrayed—’
‘Can you blame me?’ Caelan fixed her gaze on the traffic crossing Westminster Bridge, deliberately not looking at Nicky. ‘You let me believe you were dead. I cried over your body, went to your funeral, and all the time you were hiding in a safe house. How am I supposed to forget that?’
To their right, Big Ben began to chime. Eleven o’clock. Nicky stepped closer, spoke quietly.
‘I know. In your place… well, I don’t know how I’d feel. I never wanted to lie to you. I had no choice.’
‘As you’ve already said several times, but you did, Nicky. You could have told me. You think I wouldn’t have kept your secret? Our whole lives are built on lies and stories. I thought you trusted me.’
A group of schoolchildren were approaching, wearing fluorescent yellow vests over their coats, harried-looking adults scurrying along with them. Caelan and Nicky stepped back against the black metal railings.
‘I did. I do.’ Nicky’s voice was little more than a whisper. ‘Please, Caelan.’
Now Caelan did look at her, her face working. She wouldn’t cry, not now, not on the street, in front of this woman.
‘You said you don’t know how you’d feel in my place. Well, let me try to explain. I feel used, lied to, and yes, betrayed. I respected you as a colleague, then as a friend. When our relationship moved beyond that, I thought I’d found the person I could trust with anything. With my life.’
Nicky’s lips trembled. ‘And you had.’
Caelan’s laugh was bitter. ‘No. When you were asked to go into hiding, you were thinking of yourself. Not your parents, your family, who also thought you were dead. How could you do it to them? I saw them at the funeral…’ She shook her head, the memories appalling her all over again. ‘They were destroyed. Then they were told you’d magically, miraculously been resurrected and were expecting to be welcomed with open arms? How’s your relationship with them now, Nicky?’
She blinked. ‘We barely have one.’
‘Can’t say I’m surprised. What did you expect? If I were them, I wouldn’t be able to forgive you either. What you did to them was worse than if you really had died. You devastated them twice.’
Nicky’s face was red as she took another step towards Caelan, her voice hard and low. ‘Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think I sat day after day in that fucking place hating myself? You’ve no idea what it was like, imagining my parents hearing the news, how they would react. The pain I was causing. Do you think I can forget that? I thought it was safer if I was out of the way.’
‘Safer for you, maybe.’
‘No, Caelan, safer for everyone. Nasenby was killing anyone linked to the Charlie Flynn case. I was terrified for my parents, for you. I knew too much, and I thought if I was dead… well, my knowledge would die with me.’
Caelan sneered. ‘Really? How noble of you. Maybe if you’d actually died, that might be more believable. As it is, you just sound pathetic.’
‘And you don’t?’ Nicky shook her head. ‘I’m not asking if we can pick up where we left off. You know better than anyone that the job comes first. I did what I was told, as we all do. You’re no different. What would you have done in my position? Would you have told me the truth? That you were disappearing for a while, playing dead, while everyone else got on with the job?’
‘Yes.’
‘What?’
‘I’d have told you.’ Caelan ran a hand over her eyes. ‘I’d have trusted you. Not any more.’
‘Bullshit. You’d have disappeared like I did. Allowed yourself to be carried out on a stretcher, taken to a house fuck knows where in the middle of the night and left there.’
‘You’re
expecting sympathy?’ Caelan drew her eyebrows together, tipped her head to the side. ‘Poor you, Nicky. It must have been awful.’
Nicky blushed. ‘You don’t have to be sarcastic. I get it.’
‘You clearly don’t, because if you did, you wouldn’t still be trying to justify your decision.’
‘I’m trying to explain.’ Nicky scrubbed at her cheeks with both hands.
‘You don’t need to. I told Elizabeth Beckett I’d work with you, and I will. But what we had is gone.’
Nodding, Nicky wrapped her arms around her body. Caelan waited, her throat choked. Saying those words had been more difficult than she had expected.
‘I told Assistant Commissioner Beckett that you’d find out what was going on,’ Nicky said eventually. ‘I knew you’d find out who was dirty in the department if she gave you the chance.’
‘But I didn’t. Penrith did.’
‘Come on, Caelan, I know what happened. It was you who went to Nasenby to confront him, not Ian.’ Nicky raised a hand, about to touch the bruising on Caelan’s face, then thought better of it. ‘Did Nasenby do that?’
‘Can you see it? Shit. I thought I’d covered it up.’
‘You rubbed some of the make-up off when you touched your face before. Did he?’
Caelan sighed. ‘Yeah. Hit me with a gun, gave me a few slaps and kicks.’
Nicky’s face tightened. ‘Bastard.’
‘At least he didn’t shoot me.’
‘But he did shoot the man who was with you.’
‘You know.’
‘Who is he?’
‘Long story. Why don’t you ask Beckett? She seems to have told you everything else.’
Nicky scowled. ‘I’m part of this team. Why wouldn’t she?’
‘Forget it. Look, I’ve got to go. I’ve a phone call to make, and I can’t do it here.’
‘What are your plans?’
‘It’s not as though we’ve been given specific instructions. I’ll speak to Hamilton. Maybe meet him again.’ Caelan shrugged.
‘Do you want me to…?’
‘What?’
‘Back you up.’ Nicky glanced at Caelan, then away. ‘We’re both working alone now…’
Caelan was unmoved. ‘And that’s how we’ve been told to approach this.’
Bowing her head, Nicky hunched her shoulders. ‘All right. Do you want to take my phone number?’
‘Nicky, what are you doing? No, I don’t. We don’t know each other. If I see you around, I’ll ignore you. You know how this works.’
Nicky held up her hands. ‘Fine. I just… Okay. Goodbye, Caelan.’ She turned and walked away.
Caelan watched until she was lost amongst the crowds. Only then did she pull a tissue from her bag and wipe her eyes.
‘Do you think she’s up to the job?’ The voice came from behind her. Caelan turned. Elizabeth Beckett stood there, hands in the pockets of her long black coat. ‘Don’t pretend you knew I was here.’
‘You’ve made your point, ma’am. I was distracted. It won’t happen again.’ Caelan straightened her back, lifted her chin.
‘I should hope not.’ Beckett’s eyes strayed over Caelan’s shoulder, then focused on her face. ‘I asked you a question.’
‘Is Nicky up to the job? What do you mean?’
‘What I’ve just seen was unprofessional. I didn’t hear what was said, but it was clear you know each other. It’s unacceptable. This isn’t a game.’
‘As I’m aware.’ Pressing her lips together, Caelan swallowed what she really wanted to say. Beckett was right: she had been careless, allowing Nicky to drag her into a conversation they should not have been having.
‘And yet here you are.’ Beckett paused. ‘I told you before, if you can’t work with Nicky, you’ll both be transferred.’
‘I remember.’
‘I’d like you to keep an eye on her, though.’
‘An eye? Difficult to do when I’m not supposed to be in contact with her.’
‘Richard agreed to report back to me, but we need him elsewhere now.’ Beckett continued as though Caelan hadn’t spoken.
‘You had Richard spying on Nicky for you? Good to know you trust us.’
Beckett shook her head. ‘It’s not about trust, you know that. I’m concerned.’
‘Really? Why don’t you pack her off to a safe house again if you’re so worried about her?’ Caelan knew she was on dangerous ground, but she couldn’t help herself. Beckett was the reason Nicky had disappeared, had hidden away. Had allowed those who cared about her to believe she was dead.
Beckett’s expression warned her not to push further. ‘I want you to report back to me if Nicky seems to be struggling. She’s feeling guilty, and I can’t risk her decisions being compromised while she’s on active duty.’
‘Heaven forbid.’
‘Caelan, you might think you’re being clever acting like a sulky schoolgirl, but I’ll warn you once more. Carry on like this and you’ll be transferred, or dismissed. I can’t have people in my unit who don’t respect me or the work they’re involved in.’
‘I do respect you, ma’am. That doesn’t mean I agree with every decision you make.’
‘Understood. But I don’t agree with people who are romantically involved with each other working closely together.’
‘We’re not involved. We won’t ever be again. You made sure of that.’ Caelan stopped, the truth of what she had just said hitting her like a punch.
Beckett held up a finger. ‘Don’t.’
Caelan stared at her, appalled, the pieces fitting together. ‘That’s why you sent her away, wasn’t it? You guessed how I’d react. Our relationship would be shattered, and I’d be free to find out who was corrupt in our department.’
Beckett’s face was unreadable. ‘No. Your relationship was irrelevant. I acted in the best interests of my officer’s safety.’
It was Caelan’s turn to curl her lip. ‘Really.’
Beckett was already turning away. ‘Go to Edmonton. Do your job. If you’d rather not, let me know and I’ll send someone else.’
18
Buttoning her coat as she jogged down the stairs, Jen Somerville almost stumbled, and grabbed the banister for support. Slow down, she told herself. Falling and ending up in hospital wouldn’t help her complete her list of tasks. Behind her, DC Gill hesitated.
‘Okay?’
‘Fine.’ Somerville’s tone was more abrupt than she had intended, and she moderated it. ‘Let’s go.’
In the car park, Gill unlocked a dark-blue Ford Focus. Somerville opened the passenger door and climbed in, pushing plastic bottles and fast-food wrappers to the side of the footwell with her toes.
‘I’ve seen cleaner pigsties,’ she muttered. Gill grinned at her as he reversed out of the parking space.
‘My mum used to say that about my bedroom.’
Somerville cocked an eyebrow. ‘Used to?’
‘Hey, I’ve moved out.’ He stuck out his bottom lip, mock-offended.
‘And you’re only just forty-five.’
‘Funny.’ Gill brought the car to a halt at a red light. ‘I’m in a house share. You ever tried renting around here when you’re single, have only one income?’ He shook his head. ‘It’s impossible.’
Somerville considered telling him how she had struggled to make ends meet since her husband had walked out, but decided against it. No one at work knew he had gone. She still wore her wedding ring, and avoided talking about him, about home. After overhearing a conversation in the loos one day, she knew she had a reputation amongst her colleagues for being reserved, and a workaholic. Let them think what they wanted. It was less painful that way. She pulled out her phone, checked her emails. ‘Maybe if you spent less on takeaways and fancy suits…’
Gill looked down at himself. ‘Got to look sharp in this job, Sarge.’
‘That’s why I brought you.’
He glanced at her. ‘How do you mean?’
‘We’re going to talk
to a teenage boy. I’m old enough to be his mum, maybe even his nan. I want someone he’s going to connect with.’
‘And that’s my job?’
‘I’ll be there too, but I want you to do the talking.’
Gill blew out his cheeks. ‘What do we want to know?’
Somerville explained, watching Gill nod and a smile lift the corner of his lips. He was a good officer, but he could be cocky. This was his chance to prove there was more to him than a smart haircut and a wide-boy grin.
* * *
Caelan watched Jen Somerville stomp across the pavement. Somerville was scowling, stabbing at the screen of her phone as she walked. Behind her scurried a young man, gathering his suit jacket around his body as it was blown open by the wind. Caelan stepped further back into the bus shelter where she had been waiting, and watched them drive away. When the car had disappeared, she moved out onto the pavement, huddling inside her jacket as drizzle began to fall. After a minute or so, Joseph Rainey appeared, wearing a hooded sweatshirt over his school uniform.
‘They’re clueless,’ he said as he approached her.
Caelan shrugged. ‘They want to help.’
His laugh was scornful. ‘You should have heard him. Calling me bruv, trying to be my mate. Talking about going down Stamford Bridge.’ He shook his head. ‘Like I’ve ever been there.’
‘Don’t you like football?’ Caelan teased.
He gave her a sideways glance. ‘You’ve dyed your hair.’
She thought quickly. ‘I fancied a change.’
Keeping her eyes on the pavement, Caelan hoped he would forget about it. He had recognised her easily, but he had been expecting to see her, and the changes she had made to her appearance since they had first met weren’t designed to be total disguise.
‘Shall we walk?’ he asked.
Caelan nodded. ‘We can get a drink and some food if you like.’
‘There’s a McDonald’s around the corner.’ He pointed with his thumb.
‘Handy.’
He managed a smile. ‘Mum and Dad don’t like us going there for lunch, but…’
‘Better than the food at school?’
Tell No Lies Page 15