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Chapters (130)
  1. Cover
  2. FIND THEM DEAD
  3. Dedication page
  4. Maps
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. FOUR MONTHS LATER
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. 56
  62. 57
  63. 58
  64. 59
  65. 60
  66. 61
  67. 62
  68. 63
  69. 64
  70. 65
  71. 66
  72. 67
  73. 68
  74. 69
  75. 70
  76. 71
  77. 72
  78. 73
  79. 74
  80. 75
  81. 76
  82. 77
  83. 78
  84. 79
  85. 80
  86. 81
  87. 82
  88. 83
  89. 84
  90. 85
  91. 86
  92. 87
  93. 88
  94. 89
  95. 90
  96. 91
  97. 92
  98. 93
  99. 94
  100. 95
  101. 96
  102. 97
  103. 98
  104. 99
  105. 100
  106. 101
  107. 102
  108. 103
  109. 104
  110. 105
  111. 106
  112. 107
  113. 108
  114. 109
  115. 110
  116. 111
  117. GLOSSARY
  118. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  119. NOW A MAJOR ITV SERIES
  120. I FOLLOW YOU
  121. 1
  122. 2
  123. 3
  124. 4
  125. 5
  126. 6
  127. DISCOVER THE ROY GRACE BOOKS
  128. FIND THEM DEAD
  129. The Detective Superintendent Roy Grace books in order
  130. Also by Peter James

He next viewed the sickening scene in Stuie’s bedroom. The Home Office pathologist had identified kicks to Stuie’s body made by two different-sized shoes. It was impossible to tell from the chaotic mess and destruction whether it was the work of two or even more people. He froze the image repeatedly on the wide sweep and then the different angles of close-ups and the crime scene markers laid down. He was interrupted by his phone ringing. It was Cassian Pewe.

‘Just calling for an update on Operation Canoe, Roy. Any good news for me, for the weekend?’

Grace was sorely tempted to lash into him over the promotions board, but at this point he wasn’t supposed to know that the ACC had failed to support him despite his promise. So instead he kept calm and studiously polite.

‘I’ll be able to give you more after our next briefing at 6 p.m., sir, I hope.’

‘Hope?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Hope doesn’t interest me, Roy. Come to my office at 9 a.m. tomorrow and we’ll do a complete review of the case and investigation to date.’

Grace’s heart momentarily sank. Then he decided to stand firm. ‘I’m afraid I’m taking my son fishing tomorrow, sir,’ he replied.

‘Fishing?’

‘Yes.’

‘You are the SIO of a murder enquiry and you’re taking time out to go fishing?’

‘I am, yes,’ Grace replied, calmly. ‘I will ask Acting Detective Inspector Potting, who I’ve appointed to be SIO in my absence, to meet you at 9 a.m. tomorrow and he will fully brief you.’

‘Isn’t it about time Potting was pensioned off? He’s long past his sell-by date.’

‘If you want to get rid of one of the best detectives we have, then yes, sir.’

‘He’s yesterday’s man.’

‘I don’t agree.’

‘Fishing, when you are running a murder enquiry. I think this is very bad, Roy. Not setting a good example at all.’

‘There is some good news,’ Grace replied, mischievously.

‘There is?’

‘Yes, the forecast is good.’

‘I don’t think that’s funny. Call me when you have some proper good news.’ He ended the call abruptly.

That won’t be possible, thought Grace. Because the good news will be when I can hold a press conference announcing your sudden and tragic death.

97

Tuesday 28 May

Meg, fighting a yawn, sat along with her fellow jurors and everyone else in Court 3. She had so badly wanted – needed – to be rested and fresh for today. Ready for the biggest and most terrifying challenge she’d ever had to face in her life. Instead she felt terrible, her eyes raw, her brain a porridge of leaden, tangled thoughts.