BooksBarbecue
Back Cross and Burn Save as PDF
Chapters (74)
  1. About the Author
  2. Also by Val McDermid
  3. COPYRIGHT
  4. CROSS AND BURN
  5. Dedication
  6. Acknowledgements
  7. Epigraph
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. 42
  50. 43
  51. 44
  52. 45
  53. 46
  54. 47
  55. 48
  56. 49
  57. 50
  58. 51
  59. 52
  60. 53
  61. 54
  62. 55
  63. 56
  64. 57
  65. 58
  66. 59
  67. 60
  68. 61
  69. 62
  70. 63
  71. 64
  72. 65
  73. 66
  74. 67

Paula felt the hot flush of annoyance burn her cheeks. ‘It’s my job to bring the guilty to account. I’ve never let personal feelings stand in the way of that.’

‘You see, Sergeant, this is where you have to nail your colours to the mast. Can you concede that Dr Hill might be guilty? Can you commit to pursuing this investigation without your friendship getting in the way? Can you arrest and interrogate this man? If you can’t say yes to those questions, say yes and mean it, there’s no place for you on this case. There’s plenty of other crimes need a talented investigator. Plenty of other SIOs who could use a smart sergeant. But I can’t use somebody who’s a secret squirrel for the other side.’

Even through her suppressed fury, Paula found a moment to wonder where this woman got her vocabulary from. Secret squirrel? What was that about? ‘I’ll do what’s necessary,’ she said, her voice thick with anger. ‘I’ll go where the evidence takes me. I’m not afraid of the truth.’

Fielding gave her a long hard look, head cocked to one side, considering. ‘I think I believe you, McIntyre.’ She looked at her watch. ‘I want to do this quietly. No big media ruckus. Presumably you have Dr Hill’s phone number?’ Paula nodded. ‘What would bring him in here?’

‘A request for help.’

‘Perfect. There’s no way that can be construed as entrapment. Text him now. Tell him you need his help, ask him to come here.’

Paula stared at her phone screen for a long moment then typed in, Need your help. Can you stop by Skenfrith Street later? She showed the screen to Fielding, who nodded. Paula sent the text. This is how Judas felt. She stood up. ‘I’ll get to work on Nadia’s diary. I’ll let you know as soon as he gets back to me.’

She sat at the computer, the screen blurred and meaningless. Her stomach churned and her hands felt cold and clammy. She felt disloyal and disgusted, but the treachery she’d chosen at least had the virtue of keeping her on the front line. From this position, she was best placed to help her friend. Maybe even to save him. She only hoped he’d see it like that.

40