And stick your phone up his jacksie while you’re at it, Grace thought irreverently. He knew that Lawrence Thompson shared his views on Pewe. Not many employees of Sussex Police who’d ever encountered the man didn’t.

92

Saturday 7 September

Usually these days, the ACC didn’t invite Roy Grace to sit, instead making him stand in front of his desk for their meetings. But today, with an odd, almost simpering smile, he shook his hand firmly. ‘Good to see you, Roy, thanks for sparing the time to see me.’

As Cassian Pewe spoke, he ushered him to one of the two-seater corner sofas and perched himself on the other. ‘Would you like some coffee?’

That was almost another first. This must be Pewe’s way of showing sympathy, Grace thought.

‘I’m fine, thank you, sir.’

Pewe looked closely at him, still with his faintly unintelligent expression. ‘How are you bearing up?’

‘OK, thank you. Being at work is helping.’

‘And your lovely wife, is she coping all right?’

‘Cleo’s trying to be strong – she’s gone into work today as well.’

A frown flitted across his face. ‘I understand the PM on Bruno was carried out at Worthing, is that right?’

‘Yes, to spare Cleo from having to be involved. The funeral directors are collecting his body from there.’

‘Very sensible,’ Pewe said. ‘I’m so extremely sorry, Roy, for your loss. You have my very deepest sympathy. You will please pass my condolences to Cleo and his grandparents.’

‘I will, thank you.’

‘I think it was Aristotle who said, “The gods have no greater torment than for a mother to outlive her child.”’

‘Fortunately for Sandy, if you can call her a mother, she didn’t.’

The wan smile again. ‘I’m sure it applies to the father, as well.’

‘It does,’ Grace replied. ‘And Aristotle was right.’

Pewe nodded, clasping his hands together in a gesture of sympathy. ‘If there is anything I can do, if you need to take some time out as I’ve said before, please let me know.’

‘I appreciate that, sir.’

‘And when you have made the funeral arrangements, please also let me know.’

Was he intending to send a donation to the charity he and Cleo decided on – which they were still discussing – Grace wondered? God forbid he was planning to attend. All the more reason to make it a private, family one. It had been bad enough when he’d attended Sandy’s, he didn’t want this creep polluting their grief at Bruno’s.

‘We’ll be putting an announcement in the Argus,’ he replied.

Pewe nodded.

‘Perhaps you could let me know, in case I miss it.’

Grace grimaced by way of a reply.

There was a moment of silence. Then Pewe’s face clouded into a back-to-business expression. Evidently the ACC was still blissfully unaware of the tsunami heading his way. That thought was the only thing that cheered Grace up at this moment.

‘Right,’ Pewe said. ‘Good. So, I need to talk to you about resourcing, Roy.’