‘Probably the latter,’ Charlie replied swiftly.‘A local man, possibly connected to the docks, who may be the active accomplice of a major trafficker.We’re hoping that if we can find him, he will lead us to the people smugglers.That’s what the team are working on right now.They know how important it is that we make tangible progress in this area.’
Charlie knew she was over-egging it, that this might come back to bite her, but was nevertheless pleased with the cloak of management speak she’d managed to throw over their abject failure.Perhaps shewasgetting better at this.
‘I’m glad to hear it.Things can’t go on as they are.’
She was staring at Charlie intently, the latter shifting uncomfortably under her gaze.Was this a damning verdict on their fight against trafficking?Or a withering assessment of her tenure as leader of the MIT?It was hard to tell.
‘Couldn’t agree more, so if we’re done …’ Charlie replied, making to leave.
‘There was one more thing.’
Charlie paused, turning back to face her boss, a thin sheen of sweat forming on her brow.She suddenly felt nervous, as though the real reason for her presence in Holmes’ office was about to be revealed.
‘I just wanted to give you a friendly piece of advice,’ the station chief continued, sounding anything but amicable.
‘Ma’am?’Charlie responded, standing a little straighter.
‘I think it might be wise if you chose your drinking buddies a little more carefully in future.’
Charlie’s spirits sank.Clearly, she and Helen had been spotted in the Cross Keys, the spy promptly reporting their encounter back to the station chief.
‘I appreciate Helen is an old friend of yours, but I’m not sure that continued exposure to her is in your best interests.’
Charlie bristled – she made Helen sound like some kind of toxic substance – but held her tongue.
‘She might have been an effective, if wilful, officer once, but she is yesterday’s news.She turned her back on our community, betraying her colleagues and her vocation in the process.As such, I’m surprised that you would have any desire to meet with her, or indeed anything to gain from such an association, especially as you’re still trying to make your mark with the new team.’
The word ‘trying’ was all-important here, Holmes’ inference clear.
‘I know you’re pressed for time, so let me just say this,’ the station chief continued briskly.‘Helen Grace is history.This is your team now, your responsibility.So whatever personal loyalty you might feel to Helen, I would strongly suggest that you cut her adrift.She has already detonated her career.I’d hate for her to do the same to yours.’
Charlie remained silent, aware that her views were not required.
‘Does that sound sensible?’
Charlie stared at Holmes, trying to quell her surging emotion.She was annoyed with Helen for putting her in this position, furious with Holmes for talking to her like a child and angry withherself for once more handing her boss an excuse to undermine her.When Superintendent Holmes had first suggested Charlie step up to the role of detective inspector, Charlie had been shocked, even a little uncomfortable about the idea of stepping into Helen’s shoes.But she’d also felt buoyed up, pleased that Holmes thought her capable of such an important role.Now, however, it was plain as day that she was on probation, both her competenceandher loyalty under constant review.Holmes had been apoplectic at the negative headlines in theSouthampton Evening News, Holmes’ competence and honesty questioned on more than one occasion.The station chief had ridden out the storm, hanging on grimly to her post, and was determined to clean out the stables, ridding Southampton Central of Helen’s influence once and for all.Charlie’s elevation, her continued leadership of the team, depended on her total loyalty to Holmes and a definitive split from her former mentor.In years gone by, Charlie would have dismissed this notion out of hand, as a grotesque affront to common sense and decency.
Today, however, she wondered if itmightbe a price worth paying.
Chapter 24
‘Keep smiling at all times, as if we’re having a nice chat.I don’t want Big Brother spotting that we’re talking about anything important.’
Ernesto Garanita nodded discreetly at the prison officer standing by the door.
‘I’m all ears,’ Emilia responded cautiously.‘Though I’m still not sure what you could possibly offer me, given your current circumstances.’
Her father took a breath, then dived in.
‘I told you I wanted to make amends before I died.And I meant it.Which is why I need you to do something for me.’
Emilia’s expression clouded over and she leaned back in her chair, instinctively retreating from the man who’d abused her good nature so often before.
‘It’s nothing like that, believe me,’ her father blustered.
‘Well, what is it then?’
‘So, you probably know that when I was convicted, I was made to hand over everything,’ he continued quickly.‘The money, the cars, the drugs …’
