by Matt Hilton
‘You were on a tight timescale,’ agreed Tinsley, ‘I can accept that. But for one point.’ She looked at Porter, and he nodded. Obviously the two had rehearsed prior to Kerry’s arrival.
Porter strode forward, unfolding his arms, and stopped halfway down the length of the table. He rested his hands on the back of a chair, peered at Kerry, and exhaled, as if it pained him to make the accusation. ‘You claim to have been constrained by time, but you found the time to go home first.’
‘I was still waiting for contact from my source when I went home. I’d no idea if he’d come through with information or not. I told you that beforehand, sir.’
He didn’t validate her answer. ‘It has come to our notice,’ he said, using her words against her, ‘that whilst you made this unscheduled visit home, you ended up arguing with your fiancé, and as a result you broke up with him. Your wedding engagement’s off and you’re currently no fixed abode?’
Glancing at Tinsley, Kerry got no sympathy. She concentrated on Porter instead. ‘Our personal relationship isn’t really any of your business.’
‘It is when it affects your work,’ he countered. ‘Before you argue, I must remind you that your trip home was taken during a particularly busy period where you abandoned your team, forcing them to take up the slack.’
‘I hardly think abandoned is the right word,’ she snapped. ‘Everything was under control; I delegated tasks to the more than competent members of my team, and with DS Korba overseeing them. By then I’d been on duty for a long time, and needed to go home to freshen up for what I anticipated would be many more hours on duty. I think we can all agree that my suspicions were born out. After locating, chasing and not only arresting Robson, but saving his life in the process, my day didn’t end there.’
‘Nobody’s denying you had an eventful day,’ Porter said. ‘The issue that you returned home isn’t what concerns us most. It’s the fact that you lied about being ill. Before you deny it, I was looking for you, only to be informed you’d gone home sick. Now I trust that was your lie and not DS Korba’s?’
‘I told Danny I felt unwell, and I did. But I also told him I fully intended returning to work, and to call me urgently if anything came up. I bet you he told you that too?’
Again Porter chose not to confirm, doing so undermined his point.
‘The thing is,’ he said, with a quick glance for support from Superintendent Tinsley, ‘you’ve had issues with your health for some time now. Is that correct?’
Kerry sat back, a knot of anger growing in her chest.
‘It’s not something to be ashamed of,’ Porter said.
‘What isn’t to be ashamed of, having an upset stomach?’
‘Your other illness,’ he said.
‘No. What you mean is my supposed mental illness. That’s what this is really about. I know that Adam telephoned you, sir. Can I point out that it was immediately after we had a blazing row and he wasn’t exactly my greatest fan at the time?’
‘A second source corroborated Adam’s concerns,’ he said.
He meant Ron Dawson.
‘Oh? Really? And who would that be, sir?’
‘I’m not at liberty to mention the name of my source,’ Porter said, and immediately grimaced, realising his faux pas.
She sneered. But being facetious wasn’t the best move for saving her career. She opened her hands like a supplicant. ‘I don’t see what the problem is here. Yes, I went home with an upset stomach; yes, I broke up with my fiancé, but as soon as I had a lead on Robson I worked it, and everything turned out great in the end.’
‘Everything except for your domestic arrangements,’ Tinsley put in.
Kerry closed her mouth.
Since their break-up she’d lived out of her hotel room on Euston Road, but accepted it was a stopgap measure. She was still at odds with Adam: after blatantly grassing to Porter about her mental instability, she was unsure if she could ever forgive him.
Porter stood up straight, allowing his hands to fall by his sides. Tinsley also stood, straightening her uniform shirt. It was so white and unblemished it was difficult to look at. Kerry raised her gaze to Tinsley’s face. The lenses of her glasses reflected the overhead lights. She gave no clue about what was coming.
Excruciatingly, Tinsley made her wait. The superintendent walked to the window and peered outside. Her office was on an upper floor of the station, and wasn’t overlooked. There wasn’t much of a view, just the bare brick walls of an adjacent building, and if she stood on a chair and craned far enough she might get a glimpse of St Paul’s Cathedral on a bright day. Outside, rain lashed down, the promised Indian summer never having transpired. Without looking at her, Tinsley said, ‘I don’t think you need to be here, Inspector Darke.’
‘You’re suspending me, ma’am?’
‘No. This is not a suspension. I’m authorizing a two weeks period of paid leave.’
Kerry shook her head.
Tinsley turned to face her. ‘My decision isn’t up for debate, Inspector. It’s final. Full stop. Think of the time off as a period of compassionate leave, if you prefer. An opportunity to sort out your personal problems without having to worry about how it will affect your ability to do your job.’
Kerry stood. ‘I’ve just cleared one suspect’s name of murder, and arrested the conspirators who put Derrick Lewis up to shooting Nala and Bilan Ghedi. It was unfortunate Lewis died during his arrest attempt, but that was unavoidable when he chose to shoot his way out. I don’t see where my supposed personal problems have affected my ability to do my job. If I hadn’t been on the ball, an innocent man would’ve taken the rap for a double murder he didn’t commit, and all those others would have got away scot free.’
Tinsley’s eyes narrowed. ‘When I say my decision’s final, I don’t expect to repeat myself. Neither do I expect to explain myself, but I will. Despite what you think, I’m actually doing this for your benefit. Charles is in agreement with me. We both feel that you’ve been under undue stress since Erick Swain died and need to take some time out to come to terms with what happened.’
Porter must have repeated Ron Dawson’s advice to the superintendent ad verbum. And now Tinsley was quoting it back to her. It surprised her, because she truly had felt that Porter wouldn’t be happy until she was drummed out of the station. She frowned at him, but his features remained impassive for the time being.
‘I appreciate the offer,’ she said, looking again at Tinsley. ‘But I can’t do it. I’ve too much to do. I have more than the Ghedi case ongoing and need to—’
‘It’s not an offer, Inspector Darke,’ Tinsley snapped. ‘It’s an order. Don’t make me regret my decision to take this route with you. You said you delegated tasks to your team before, and that’s what you’ll do now. I’ve already arranged cover by an acting DI to allow you to take time off, and DS Korba is fully conversant with your caseload and can help steer the ship. We will manage fine without you. I don’t want to see you back here for two weeks, do you understand?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Kerry stared at her folded hands. Her gaze latched on the faint pale ring of skin where her engagement ring used to be. ‘Maybe some time off will do me good,’ she murmured.
‘This,’ said Tinsley, and gestured at the table, then the room in general, ‘is between the three of us here. You don’t have to worry about it appearing on your service record. As far as anyone else needs know, you requested leave and I granted it.’ Tinsley raised her eyebrows, waiting for gratitude.
Kerry nodded, said, ‘Yes. Only the three of us.’
As she left the office, Erick Swain followed.
42
Once Kerry was out of earshot, Superintendent Tinsley regarded Porter. His eyebrows rose and fell, and he shrugged.
‘I don’t understand why she’s so adamant about protecting her source,’ she said. ‘How does revealing a name to us harm her?’
Before Darke’s arrival at Tinsley’s office, Porter had intimated his concern about the ins
pector’s approach to the case. After Swain’s untimely death, it was almost as if it had become a personal quest for her to prove the man’s innocence in the shooting. Admittedly, her doggedness had gone on to prove the wider conspiracy, and secure a PR success for the Gangs and Organised Crime taskforce and the Met by association, but he couldn’t shake the suspicion that there was third party motivation at play.
‘All I can think of is that her source gains from her silence,’ he said.
‘Not a scenario I care to think about.’
The original plot to dethrone Swain was Jermaine Robson’s attempt at grabbing control of a larger territory. He’d conspired with Hettie Winters to replace Swain not only as the head of a wider and more lucrative criminal empire but also in her bed. On Robson’s arm, Hettie would enjoy a level of riches denied her by Swain, who was proud of his working class roots and had no intention of living the lavish lifestyle she craved. By her own admission, her relationship with Swain had been a loveless one, and she required a more attentive and virile lover: the boobs, the Botox, and all the other enhancements, hadn’t been for Swain’s benefit. Robson and Hettie each had a different end result in mind, but both were motivated by greed. There had to be loyal members of Swain’s gang who were not party to the plan who would do anything to ensure it failed. Kerry Darke was a solid detective, not exceptional by Porter’s measure only decent enough, and she couldn’t work miracles. She had to have been given the key information she needed to find the fugitives — which she’d admitted to receiving through this elusive Deep Throat character — but for whose benefit? Her erratic behaviour, bordering on manic at times, meant she was under some kind of duress, but was it of her making? Was her burden of guilt not because an innocent man had died, but because she was receiving favours in return for her services, and was terrified of being found out? Had someone paid her to ensure the truth came out, and Robson’s and Hettie’s plan collapsed? With Robson and Swain out of the picture it left both their territories ripe for a take-over.
‘As you know, I’ve talked this through with Graeme Harker…’
‘Yes. I’m aware. And I thought you were jumping the gun, Charles. You began these talks with Professional Standards before Kerry’s unexpected successes, though.’
‘Because I’d a suspicion there was something off with her before then,’ he reminded her. ‘When I spoke with her that day in my office her behaviour…well, it was more than odd. Let’s just say she left me feeling thoroughly creeped out. When there’s a sudden shift in somebody’s demeanour it often means they’re struggling to contend with something.’
‘Corruption, bribes?’
Porter blew air out the corners of his mouth.
‘Charles,’ Tinsley said, ‘you were a complete bastard with her after Swain died. It’s unsurprising her behaviour was off after you used her as a scapegoat. Name me any detective who’d have been any less angry at the way she was mistreated. You can’t.’
‘I was doing what was required at the time,’ he countered, puffing out his chest.
‘And I’d have done the same. I’m not criticising your actions, only pointing out that I can see why Kerry was so pissed off. At you.’
Porter deflated.
‘What’s Graeme’s take on things?’
‘Ambivalence.’
‘So he’s discovered nothing to say Kerry’s dirty?’
‘There’s nothing unusual in her financial records, but that isn’t to say she isn’t receiving payment in cash or in some other commodity.’ There were instances when he’d wondered if Kerry was high on something, and one time where he was positive she was drunk, but there was no evidence of drug or alcohol dependency. ‘If she’s being paid it’s in hard cash she can keep under her mattress.’
‘Or you’re wrong and she’s totally above board.’
‘Yes. There is that. Except for…I don’t know. There’s something the matter with her. You did notice how she kept looking around, as if watching another person in the room with us? It was almost as if she was trying to convince them as much as us that she followed the correct course of action. I don’t believe in ghosts but…’ he chuckled, shook his head at the absurdity of where his mind was leading him.
‘I noticed. But then again, I find it difficult holding her gaze. Perhaps I was glancing everywhere but at her too. I can easily put her behaviour down to nerves: she came in this room expecting the worst.’
‘Her fiancé, Adam Gill, warned me she was on the verge of a break down. He was worried that…I don’t know…she might try to harm Jermaine Robson if she got her hands on him? I think he was talking about murder.’
Tinsley snorted. ‘Except that didn’t happen, did it? Quite the opposite: Kerry saved Robson’s life. If she intended him harm she could’ve let him drown. Perhaps Gill’s concerns about her were as unfounded as yours are, Charles. It’s like Kerry pointed out, Gill only rang you after their argument, maybe he was trying to cause trouble for her, to get back at her for dumping him.’
‘He claimed her behaviour was getting out of control…and I saw evidence of it.’
‘She was out of control? Were those his words or yours, Charles? Really?’
‘She obviously had concerns of her own to track down her childhood psychologist,’ Porter countered.
‘Who promptly told you she was only coming to terms with a traumatic experience. It’s why I granted her some time off, so she can do that.’
Porter spread his hands.
‘So do I ask Graeme to drop his investigation into her or not?’
Tinsley went to the table and reached for a bottle of spring water. She uncapped it, and poured a measure into a glass, deep in thought. Finally she took a sip, and smacked her lips. Her gaze drifted back to Porter, and her smile quirked. ‘I see no harm in keeping Graeme on her for now. Perhaps his findings will convince you she’s incorruptible, after all.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ he said, and it would have surprised Kerry to hear his sincerity.
43
Emotions flooded through her as Kerry took the lift down to the ground floor. But one feeling rode roughshod over the others and quelled them, totally unexpected to her. It was relief.
In hindsight, taking some time off wasn’t such a bad thing. When she’d entered Superintendent Tinsley’s office, she’d been prepared for the worst. She believed that disciplinary procedures would be initiated, because although she’d subsequently argued the toss with her superiors, she had been in the wrong going maverick like that and for withholding pertinent information regarding her source. Leaving the office on compassionate leave was far preferable to an actual dismissal. It was as Tinsley said, nobody but the three of them need know she hadn’t requested the time off. The rumour mill would generate another opinion of course, because there were no worse gossips than coppers, but they could get on with it. The journalists chasing her for quotes and photograph opportunities might make a meal of her sudden vacation. They could speculate, but officially she was on leave and that was as far as the story could progress.
On her way down to the basement car park, she called into the GaOC office, to apprise her team of her decision to take a holiday. They weren’t idiots, they knew the decision had been forced on her, but her secret was safe with them. In her private cubbyhole, she did a handover with Korba, and told her an acting DI would cover for her, but she expected him to keep things running her way. It wasn’t as if she was setting off on an around the world cruise that’d take months to complete, she’d be back in a fortnight, and didn’t want any interference with the way they ran their shop. She gave him a brief hug.
For a moment, Korba’s eyes welled up and she thought he was going to blubber.
‘Hey, what’s up with you? I’ll be back,’ she reassured him, then gave him a gentle punch to the shoulder. ‘So you’d better watch out!’
‘Aah, don’t mind me, boss. I’m alright.’ He winked, showed her a trembling smile.
She suspected what was wrong
with him. He feared her enforced break was a sign of sweeping changes to come. Hopefully he was right, but for a different reason than he was worried about.
She went down to the basement and got in her car. Only then did she turn and appraise Erick Swain seated alongside her. Sullenly, he ignored her. He’d ignored her for the past three days, moody and scowling, sometimes muttering curses under his breath. After dragging Jermaine Robson from the lake, she’d worried that he’d disappeared for good — admittedly her end game desire. Saving Robson from drowning wasn’t only a moral act, or one of duty as a police officer, because there had been a part of her that wanted him to gag to death on the muddy water, but also a selfish act, one to ensure Swain remained beholden to her. If she’d forced Robson under water, to perish, Swain would have got exactly what he demanded, and she didn’t trust him to deliver his side of the bargain. He’d have been off, crowing his pleasure at his enemy’s demise, as he skipped towards the white light. By saving Robson, she’d kept her devil on a short leash. If Robson’s eventual conviction brought justice, and with it enough satisfaction to Swain to set him free then so be it. But before then she wanted the information he’d promised.
‘Stop acting like a spoilt child,’ she said.
He flipped her the middle finger without looking at her.
Clucking her tongue, she started the engine and pulled the car up the ramp. It was a ten minutes journey back to her hotel. It felt much longer, accompanied by his baleful presence. After parking again, she went up to her room. When she pushed inside, and sat on the bed to pull off her shoes, Swain was already waiting, seated in the tub chair, behind which Girl had taken to standing. Not while Swain was present though, she never showed then. Kerry had wondered if Swain was even aware of her other spectral companion, as it didn’t appear to be the case, and never had since the moment she helped startle him off the roof to his death. Girl though was aware of him, and cared not to share a space with him.