Page 105 of Little Children

Kim heard what wasn’t being said. ‘Red wants us gone, doesn’t he?’

The chief had the grace to leave the question unanswered, but Kim knew she was right. Red knew they were getting close, and he wanted them gone.

Kim considered divulging everything they knew or suspected about the team.

That their detective inspector had acted inappropriately with the victim of a crime who had been raped and murdered after divulging this information to herself and Bryant. No complainant or witness to substantiate the story.

That one of their detective sergeants had taken sickening photos of female victims at crime scenes and pressured a woman into having sex, not to mention the possibility of planting evidence to frame someone for murder. No complainant or witness to substantiate the story.

That someone within the team was deliberately obstructing the investigation into the missing boys.

Problem was they had absolutely no proof. There was a chance that the chief wouldn’t believe her; and even if she did and started an investigation, there was a risk they’d put the tipster in immediate danger. And Kim wouldn’t be able to protect them if she had been sent on her way. If only she had a little more time.

‘Marm, I’m sure we can continue to assist with trying to find Lewis and?—’

‘I think your contribution has been substantial. Please don’t think I’m not grateful for all you’ve done to move the investigation forward. I just need my team’s focus solely on the cases on their desks.’

Kim understood the decision. She was sure Woody would have done the same in this position, but she really felt that given a little more time, they could have given her evidence about one completely bent copper and maybe even identified the informant.

She wondered if that was something they could continue to investigate remotely.

She owed it one last shot.

‘Marm, I really think we?—’

‘Please understand that your input has been invaluable, and DCI Woodward is lucky to have you, but I need my team free and clear of distraction.’

Kim admired the panache with which she was being told to leave, not once but twice. Regardless of how much she wanted to continue to work the missing boys case, she wouldn’t make the chief say it a third time. She resolved to meet with Woody the minute they were back and enlist his help to continue working the cases.

She thanked the woman for her time and headed back to her team, wondering if they were going to be as pissed off as she was.

Sixty-Six

Bryant entered the squad room to a wall of silence. The only person present was Roy Moss.

As Red tended to rotate who he left manning the phones, he guessed it was Moss’s turn today. Either that or Red still couldn’t stand to look at his face.

Moss offered him a salute as a greeting. Bryant acknowledged him and headed into their own war room.

Both Penn and Stacey looked up in surprise.

‘Forgot something, Bryant?’ Stacey asked, looking around him.

‘Guv’s with the chief,’ he said, taking a seat. ‘You two got anything more?’

‘Still feeling uncomfortable that both families were victims of burglary in the last few months.’

‘Same officers?’

‘Nah, Red and Moss attended the Stevens family, and Adil and Dickinson attended the Reid family.’

Bryant could understand the dead end she’d come up against. There had been no hint of impropriety against either of those two officers, but he could understand her discomfort.

‘Still feels a bit…’

‘Cockfighting,’ Penn called out, looking from one to the other.

Stacey began to nod her agreement while Bryant felt one of his eyebrows rise.