Джеффри Арчер - Hidden in Plain Sight

William was only relieved he wasn’t in uniform. He eventually straightened himself up and made his way slowly back down the alley, to find Jackie reading the prisoner his rights. William followed them unsteadily across the road, and managed on a second attempt to open the rear door of the car, allowing Jackie to shove the prisoner onto the back seat.

William joined her in the front, and tried not to be sick again as the car swung around and headed for the nearest police station. Jackie knew the location of London nicks the way cab drivers know hotels. She came to a halt at the back of Rochester Row police station, grabbed her charge and was escorting him towards the custody area before William had even got out of the car.

Some prisoners scream in protest, letting out a stream of invective that would turn the night air purple, while others are spoiling for a fight and need a couple of burly coppers to keep them under control. But the majority meekly bow their heads and say nothing. William was relieved that this one clearly fell into the bowed-head category. But he’d learnt after only a few weeks on the job that while users are often ashamed, dealers never are.

The custody sergeant looked up as the three of them approached the desk. Jackie produced her warrant card and told him why she had arrested the prisoner, and about his lack of cooperation after he’d been cautioned. The sergeant took a custody record and a property sheet from below the counter, so he could take down the prisoner’s details before he was placed in a cell overnight. After he’d entered the words two wraps of white powder , he turned to the prisoner and said, ‘Right, lad, let’s start with your full name.’

The prisoner remained resolutely silent.

‘I’ll ask you once again. What’s your name?’

The prisoner continued to stare defiantly across the counter at his interrogator, but still said nothing.

‘This is the last time I’m going to ask you. What’s—’

‘I know his name,’ said William.

‘And you still remembered him, after all these years?’ said Beth, as he climbed into bed later that night.

‘You never forget the first crime you solve,’ William replied. ‘I was responsible for Adrian Heath being expelled from our prep school after I proved he’d been stealing Mars bars from the tuck shop. So no one was surprised when I joined the police force, though some of his friends never forgave me. I wasn’t Choirboy then, just a sneak.’

‘I feel rather sorry for him,’ said Beth, as she turned off the bedside light.

‘Why?’ asked William. ‘He’s obviously gone from bad to worse, just as my father predicted he would.’

‘It’s not like you to be so judgemental,’ said Beth. ‘I’d like to know what happened during the years after you lost contact with him, before I jump to any rash conclusions.’

‘I’m unlikely to find out, as Lamont’s almost certain to take me off the case.’

‘Why would he do that, when you might be the one person Adrian would be willing to talk to?’

‘You can’t afford to become personally involved with a suspect,’ William said. ‘It’s a golden rule for any police officer.’

‘Didn’t stop you getting personally involved with Christina Faulkner,’ said Beth, as she turned away from him.

William didn’t respond. He still hadn’t told Beth that Christina had been in touch with him again.

‘I’m sorry,’ Beth whispered, turning back towards William and kissing the jagged red scar that had never quite faded, physically or mentally. ‘If you hadn’t turned her into a friend, we might never have got the Rembrandt back. Which reminds me, we’ve got a fundraiser at the gallery tomorrow night, and although your attendance isn’t compulsory, I’d like you to come. Not least because some of the older ladies rather fancy you.’

‘What about the younger ones?’

‘They’ve all been banned,’ said Beth, as she settled into his arms. A few moments later she’d fallen asleep.

William lay awake for some time, and tried not to think about what had happened that night in Monte Carlo. And now the boss wanted him to see Christina again. Would he ever be free of her? She’d lied about everything else, and if Beth ever asked her, would she also lie about what had taken place after she’d crept into bed with him?

‘So you and the suspect were at school together, detective sergeant?’ said Lamont after William had briefed the superintendent on what had happened after he and Jackie had left his celebration party the night before.

‘Prep school,’ said William. ‘Adrian Heath was among my closest friends at the time. So I presume I’ll be taken off the case and DC Roycroft will handle it.’

‘No way. This is exactly the kind of opportunity the Hawk has been looking for. We might even have a chance of getting on the inside track if you’re able to turn your friend into a snout.’

‘But we couldn’t have parted on worse terms,’ William reminded him. ‘Don’t forget, I was responsible for him being expelled.’

‘He’ll still feel safer with you than with Jackie, or any other copper for that matter.’ William didn’t offer an opinion. ‘I want you to return to Rochester Row nick right now and turn Heath back into your best friend. And I don’t care how you do it.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said William, although he still wasn’t convinced.

‘And while we’re on the subject of friends, have you returned Mrs Faulkner’s call?’

‘Not yet, sir,’ admitted William.

‘Then get on with it. And don’t report back until both of them are on your Christmas card list.’

‘Christina?’

‘Who is this?’

‘William Warwick, returning your call.’

‘I thought you’d forgotten me,’ she said, with a friendly laugh.

‘That’s hardly likely, considering what happened the last time we met.’

‘Perhaps we should meet again. I might have something to tell you of mutual interest.’

‘Lunch at the Ritz?’ suggested William hopefully.

‘Not this time,’ said Christina, ‘because we wouldn’t have ordered our first course before my husband had been informed I was having lunch with the young detective who’d arrested him. It had better be somewhere more discreet this time.’

‘How about the Science Museum?’

‘I haven’t been there since I was a child, but what a good idea. I have to be in town next Thursday, so why don’t we meet outside the main entrance at eleven?’

‘Not outside the entrance,’ said William. ‘Someone might recognize one of us. I’ll meet you by Stephenson’s Rocket on the ground floor.’

‘Can’t wait,’ she said, before the phone went dead.

William wrote a report of his conversation with Mrs Faulkner and dropped it on Lamont’s desk before leaving the office and heading for Strutton Ground. During the short walk, he rehearsed several questions he would put to Adrian Heath, although he wasn’t convinced that they would elicit any answers if last night was anything to go by. A few minutes later he was standing outside Rochester Row nick. When he showed the desk sergeant his warrant card, the older man couldn’t hide his surprise.

‘I’d like to interview Adrian Heath, the prisoner we brought in last night,’ said William.

‘Be my guest. He’s in number two,’ said the sergeant, filling in an empty box on the custody record. ‘Refused breakfast this morning. We might get him in front of the magistrate later this afternoon, so he’s not going anywhere fast.’

‘That’s good, because I was hoping to have an intel chat with him unconnected with the offence he’s been arrested for.’

‘Fine, but keep me briefed, so all the paperwork’s in order.’