remind you how much we value your cooperation and bid you good morning.'
He turned and left. Peterson was alarmed to see a blood vessel on his chiefs head pulsing like a neon sign with a loose connection, and briefly wondered if he'd really done it this time. 'Thank you… sir,' he called after him.
Chapter 13
Sparky had a problem with the headmistress of the Moorside middle school. 'Dismissed the idea out of hand, boss,' he told me on the telephone. 'Says she can't possibly authorise us to take the pictures without the say-so of the governors.'
'Did you tell her that the photos would be destroyed as soon as we'd finished with them?'
'Yeah. It made no difference. More than her job's worth, plus a deep distrust of the police. I tried to ring Nigel — thought he might have a better chance of sweet-talking her than me but he's not answering.'
It was the first time ever that Sparky had acknowledged Nigel's talents, so I was pleased with that. He also had a habit of bypassing Nigel whenever possible and coming straight to me. I'd been wondering what to do about it, but now it looked as if the problem had gone away.
It meant the team was still a strong one.
'I'll go see her,' I said. 'Any ideas how I should play it?'
'Mmm… branding irons and thumbscrews. If they fail you'll just have to fall back on your speciality seduction.'
'You really know how to hurt a friend,' I told him.
Electrical impulses were queuing inside the telephone wires, waiting for me to replace the handset and make the connection. It rang again before I'd relaxed my grip. 'Priest,' I said.
'Detective Inspector Priest?'
I didn't recognise the voice at first. 'Yes, can I help you?'
'It's Frank Marriot, Charlie. I've some bad news, I'm afraid.'
DS Marriot was the Pornography Squad sergeant. He sounded out of breath. Lally and his woman friend were appearing at the magistrates' court this morning, from where they would hopefully be committed for trial at the crown court. Frank was there to oppose any application for bail. We desperately needed them out of circulation for the next few days.
'Why? What's happened?' I asked.
'I blew it. Lally's been remanded in custody, but the woman, Fenella Smith, was released on bail. Claimed she was just visiting and knew nothing about his activities.'
'But her name's on the electoral roll for that address.'
'I know, but I wasn't given the chance to tell the court. Afterwards she was whisked away in a taxi. I had some crazy idea about arresting her again for perjury and went charging out, but I was too slow. I saw the bloke she went with, but didn't recognise him.'
'Damn!' With her on the loose we were wasting our time we'd only get the small fry. 'OK. Don't worry about it, Frank. I'm sure you did your best.' I brought him up to date with our morning's activities.
In the corridor I met DI Peterson. 'Morning, Oscar,' I said. 'Settled into your new accommodation yet?'
He had a worried look on his face. 'Yes, you've done all right for us, eventually, but I'd like a word about something else.'
'Will it wait? I'm in a bit of a hurry.'
'Aren't we all? That big DC of yours — I want to complain about him.'
'Dave Sparkington?'
'That's him. He was downright insubordinate to me earlier today; offensive even.'
I sighed inwardly. 'What's he done?' I asked, stopping myself before I added 'now'. Sparky regarded it as his duty to play the blunt Yorkshireman with anyone from south of Doncaster, especially if they were from another force, moving in on his patch. Rank was no protection.
'I passed him in the car park, about eight o'clock. 'Good morning,' I said, as you do. He said: 'You'll get your share of it.' Ignorant sod. I warn you, Charlie, I won't tolerate that attitude from anyone, never mind a DC I tried not to smile but I must have done. Peterson said: 'It's not funny, Charlie. If we were in Trent I'd have him on a fizzer.'
'Sorry, Oscar, I'm not laughing. I think you misunderstood him.' I was struggling for an explanation. 'What he, er, really meant was, er, God willing. That's it. God willing you'll get your share of the good morning.'
'Bollocks!'
I was warming to my theme. 'No, it's true. It's just a cultural thing. It's like… well… if you said to an Englishman: 'Look, no hands,' he'd assume you were showing off. But if you said it to a Saudi Arabian he'd come to an entirely different conclusion. Wouldn't he?'
'You're a bullshitter, Charlie.'
'Maybe you're right. Leave it with me, Oscar. I'll have a word with him.'
Moorside school was one of the smaller ones on our list, but the nearest to Lally's address. It comprises a flat-roofed building, not very old, and a couple of portakabin classrooms to cater for some unforeseen demographic blip. I tried to remember if we'd done well in the World Cup about ten years ago. We hadn't it must have been a power cut.
Everybody was at lunch. I wandered down the corridors looking for the school office and pausing to admire the kids' paintings that brightened all the walls. Some of them were terrific. I was less enthusiastic about the smell of the place. I hadn't enjoyed my own schooldays, and the cocktail of sour milk, sweaty bodies and furniture polish brought the memories back.
Mrs. Quigley would be back in her office at one thirty, the school secretary told me. I went outside and sat in the car, listening to the news. A cabinet minister had been sacked for having a happy marriage; otherwise it was all depressing. At one thirty-one I rat-tatted on Mrs. Quigley's door with my right hand. In the other I carried a large manila envelope.
What profession makes policemen feel old? Headmistresses who look about twenty-two certainly do. She was brusque and efficient, though, and wore these qualities like armour.
'Inspector, I have nothing further to add to what I said to your constable this morning. I really don't see how I can help unless the board of governors sanction it. I'm afraid I cannot allow photographs of my children to be used in a criminal enquiry.'
'We are talking about very serious of fences Mrs. Quigley, and with your cooperation we could bring the perpetrators to court. All the photographs will be destroyed as soon as ' 'Yes, yes,' she interrupted. 'The constable went through all that.'
I gestured to a spare chair. 'May I sit down, please?' I didn't wait for the answer. 'Mrs. Quigley,' I went on, 'yesterday we raided a house and found evidence of a paedophile ring, operating from Heckley.
To put it bluntly, someone is having sex with what the law terms children of a tender age. These children must go to school somewhere, and we'd like to find them, protect them from further abuse. I'd have thought that you would, too.'
'My concern is completely for the children, Inspector. If the school governors give their approval I will cooperate fully, but meanwhile my answer has to be no.'
'And while we wait for that approval the birds will fly. Right at this moment they are probably destroying the evidence, until they can set up in business again somewhere else. I want to save those kids, even if you aren't so concerned.'
This wasn't the way I'd intended to handle it. She turned on me: 'Save them from what, Inspector?' she shrieked. 'At least they have parents. What do you think will happen to them if they go into care?
Do you believe they won't be abused there? Have you asked the children if they want their families destroyed? I'll give you the name and address of the chairman of the governors; you can take it from there.'
That was meant to be her last word. I unfolded the flap of the manila envelope, extracted two of the ten-by- eight prints and slid them across to the headmistress. She looked at the confusion of arms and legs, turned a print
