Contents (83)
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- Acknowledgements
- OUT NOW IN PAPERBACK
‘Are you picking me up after school?’ Richard’s voice sounded hopeful as Levy brought the car to a halt.
‘Now you’re pushing it, Richard.’ Levy’s voice remained light. This was one subject about which she felt no guilt. She was hardly the only working mother forced to miss the afternoon school run. ‘Claire will be there to collect you.’
‘OK. But I’ll see you after?’
‘I’ll do my best.’ Levy leaned across, unlocked Richard’s door and pushed it open. ‘Now you be good today.’
‘Yes, Mum.’ Richard kissed Levy on her cheek. He pressed his lips in hard. His childish way of showing affection. ‘See you later.’
‘See you later too.’
Levy’s last words were yelled after her son. Richard was already running towards the school gates.
Levy reached for the door. Pulled it shut. Put the Volvo into first and pulled away. In her passenger wing mirror she watched Richard pass the school gates. Into the safety of the playground. When he was gone she shifted to second and accelerated.
Levy’s mobile phone sat in the centre console, connected to the car’s hands-free system by Bluetooth. Levy pressed the green call icon on the car’s central display and the system came to life.
‘Call Steven Hale.’
She spoke clearly. Slowly. The system was impressive but it still made mistakes if Levy spoke in any other way.
Hale’s name and number appeared an instant before the first ring tone. He answered almost as quickly.
‘Morning, boss. You on your way in?’ He sounded stressed.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Word from above. Rogers wants to see us both as soon as you’re in the building.’
Levy’s mood dropped. An impromptu summons from the chief superintendent was never good news.
‘Any idea why?’
‘I hear he’s not happy about yesterday. Too much press attention on what he sees as failed operations.’
‘Failed operations? Is he serious? Penfold wasn’t our man but he’s still good for three other murders. And Burrell was a good collar, even with what happened. What’s his problem?’
‘I think it’s Burrell.’ Hale sounded dejected. ‘I think Rogers got wind that he’s not good for Ferris after all?’
‘Not good for Ferris? Where did that come from?’
‘From me. I’ve got my doubts, boss. And I was stupid enough to mention them.’
‘Shit.’ Levy knew how the politics of their unit worked. She had thought that Hale did, too. It looked like she had been wrong.
‘OK. I’m heading to you now. And Steve?’
‘Yes, boss?’
‘Keep your bloody mouth shut ’til I get there.’
FORTY-EIGHT
Michael reached the top step to the Old Bailey Bar Mess and looked around. It was less busy at 9 a.m. that it would be in thirty minutes. It made Jenny Draper easy to spot. That and the fact that she always sat in the same place.
Draper saw Michael at the same moment. She waved and held up what Michael assumed was a full mug of hot coffee.
‘Prepared as always.’ Michael smiled as he took the seat across from Draper. The coffee was steaming. No milk. Exactly as Michael liked it. ‘And the perfect order.’