114

Monday 16 September

Cleo was thrilled about the idea of fostering the cat, even if it only turned out to be for a short while. She told Roy that Humphrey seemed to get on really well with cats – he’d loved playing with both her sister’s cat and her parents’ two tabby cats. And maybe this one would sort out the mouse problems she was increasingly certain they had.

Over the weekend, Grace had gone into the office several times, to arrange the interview strategy for Eden Paternoster and observe the interviews with Glenn Branson. He’d also briefed Norman Potting to arrange with the Magistrates’ Court a request for a warrant for further detention, which had been successful.

EJ had checked there was a cat carrier basket in the Paternosters’ house, and Grace planned to pick Reggie up on the way home. As he drove into the Police HQ just before 8.30 a.m., he reckoned he might be going home in less than an hour’s time if ACC Pewe carried out his threat to suspend him when they met this morning.

He parked behind the Major Crime building, then went into his office to check his email for any updates and, out of force of habit, the overnight serials – all the logged crime reports in the county.

Then at 8.50 a.m., wondering what awaited him, but surprised how relaxed he felt about what could be a career-changing meeting in ten minutes’ time, he stepped back out into glorious warm sunshine. As he did so, his private phone pinged. It was a text from Cleo.

Thinking of you XXX

He texted three hearts back, then headed down the hill towards the rear entrance of Malling House, which housed the Sussex Police brass and their key support staff.

As he approached, he was puzzled by the sight of two unfamiliar vehicles, dark-coloured Audi A6s, parked up outside the building. He clocked their licence plates, but neither were familiar, and he knew from memory the indexes of pretty much all of the local unmarked cars.

He walked past them and was about to enter the door when a burly man in a grey suit came through it. He was followed by Cassian Pewe, his face chalky white, then another tall man in a blue suit bringing up the rear.

‘Good morning, sir!’ Grace said to Pewe breezily. ‘I’m here for our—’

The ACC walked past stonily, without acknowledging him.

An instant later, the man in the grey suit opened the rear door of one of the Audis. As Pewe entered the side behind the passenger seat, the burly man pushed the ACC’s head down protectively. Then he closed the door. Blue Suit opened the door on the far side, slid in behind the driver’s seat and pulled the door shut.

Grey Suit then climbed into the driver’s seat. The car glided away, down towards the main entrance barrier, which rose as it approached. Then it was gone.

Grace hesitated, uncertain what to do. Was this it? Clearly, Pewe had been arrested, he thought to his immense relief. Hadn’t he? It certainly looked like it.