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
‘I think it’s a possibility, that’s all.’ Levy answered. ‘The timing fits. And from what Mr Devlin here has been able to tell us about Hirst, it’s pretty clear that he’s responsible for Longman, Blunt and now Derek Reid. The only doubt we could have had about that was the three-year gap between his release and the first murder. But if Hirst was also responsible for Ferris, if he was waiting to repay that debt too? Suddenly that gap makes sense.’
‘Why?’
‘Because let’s assume for a moment that Hirst allowed himself to be abused by Leon Ferris when they were in Wandsworth. Let’s assume that Hirst could have stopped it, that he could have killed Ferris at any time, but that he knew the act would guarantee a lifetime in custody. Hirst would have known Ferris’s sentence. When Ferris would be released. So what if he was willing to take the abuse, in the knowledge that if he waited a while – just three years – then he could have his revenge on Longman, Blunt, Reid and on Ferris. All at the same time.’
Hale did not answer but shook his head, still unable to believe it.
‘It fills our time gap,’ Levy continued. ‘It explains why Ferris was killed within twenty-four hours of being released. And it explains why a man as dangerous as Hirst was willing to let himself be a victim in the first place. To best guarantee his early release and allow him to rain down hell on every single person he feels wronged him.’
‘OK, I can see how that works,’ Hale finally conceded. ‘And it helps explain why we haven’t been able to identify a single viable suspect since the raid on Ed Burrell’s place. But what about the way Ferris and his boys were killed, ma’am? Could Hirst be capable of that?’
‘I’m as confident as I can be that he could.’ This time Michael spoke. ‘Joelle told us what happened to Ferris. To his men, too. Hirst could have done that.’
Hale turned to look towards Michael for the first time since he had arrived.
‘I’m sorry, Mr Devlin, but I don’t see how we can base an investigation of this importance on your opinion on this subject. Unless there’s something we don’t know?’
‘I fully understand why you’d have your doubts about me on this, Mr Hale,’ Michael began. ‘But—’
‘I can vouch for Mr Devlin on this, Steve,’ Levy said.
Hale was surprised by Levy’s interruption.
‘I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t follow.’
‘You don’t need to follow. Not yet, anyway. Just trust me on this. I know what I need to know about Mr Devlin and based on all of that information . . .’ Levy looked directly at Michael as she continued, ‘all of that information,’ back to Hale, ‘I am happy that if he says Hirst is capable of what was done to Ferris then Hirst is capable. OK?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Hale had heard that tone before. Many times. Further debate would not be welcome. ‘And in that case, yes. I can see Hirst being good for the Ferris killings.’