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Chapters (60)
  1. CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR LEIGH RUSSELL
  2. Glossary of acronyms
  3. Prologue
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. Acknowledgements

‘Look, Sergeant, Armstrong’s been attacking local libraries, and even agitating to close schools in the area. He sees every public service as nothing more than a drain on funds which he’s keen to keep for his own purposes, whatever they might be. Something to bolster his own position no doubt, and of no material benefit to the community. A sop to local businesses, and a revamp of the council offices. It’s as clear as the nose on your face to anyone who bothers to examine what’s going on. If you ask me, you ought to be watching your backs. Once the schools and libraries have been decimated, you can be sure the police won’t be very much further down the list. I’m telling you, it won’t be long before he reaches you.’

‘The list? What list?’

‘Armstrong’s list,’ he replied impatiently. ‘His list of proposed cutbacks. Don’t tell me you still don’t get it? David bloody Armstrong and his cronies on the council are chipping away at any services that don’t make money. That’s all they’re interested in: profit, profit, profit. Never mind essential services. Never mind protecting basic human rights. They don’t care because they can afford private health cover and they can pay to send their children to fee-paying schools. The schools and libraries are first to go, because they’re soft targets, but you’ll be next. As for what’s happening in the health service, it’s – well, it’s criminal. Literally. David Armstrong and his stooges ought to be locked up.’

‘I’m not here to engage in political debate,’ Geraldine replied, when he appeared to have run out of steam.

‘Why are you here then, if not to help raise public awareness of these savage cutbacks?’

‘I’d like to invite you to accompany me to the police station so we can ask you a few questions,’ she said.

Jonathan took an involuntary step back but he made no move to close the door. Even in his evidently dawning alarm, he was intelligent enough to realise that would be pointless.

‘Why?’ he asked. ‘What do you want with me?’

Geraldine gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile. ‘It’s just possible you can help us with an investigation,’ she replied. ‘We’d like to chat to you about your associates.’

‘My associates? Oh, very well,’ he replied, surrendering with a shrug of resignation. ‘If I have to come with you, I might as well come now. It’s not as if I’ve got a job to go to.’

23

23

Geraldine and Ian sat down facing Jonathan across an interview table.

‘You don’t mind if we record this conversation, do you?’ Ian asked.

He leaned back, affecting a casual pose, while Jonathan fidgeted in his chair, his voice rising in agitation as he fired a series of protests.