There was no point in discussing the matter with Commissioner Shaw as he was no doubt feeling the pressure as well. His appointment was due for renewal, and questions were already being raised about his suitability. The detective superintendent, a political animal, knew why the questions were being asked. They were political in nature, lacking in substance, and were there to apply pressure on Commissioner Shaw to rein in his people. He also knew that Commissioner Shaw was not a man easily swayed. Neither was he. It was a dilemma he would face if the pressure came. It was clear that Angus MacTavish would have no trouble applying the pressure.
‘Goddard, it’s good to see you.’ The meeting started well. The Red Lion, a short distance from MacTavish’s office, hardly seemed the ideal place, as it was well frequented by politicians from both sides of the house, but MacTavish had arranged a private room on the first floor.
‘Change of location?’
‘Somewhere private.’
‘I saw some from the other side of the house downstairs.’
‘Don’t worry about them. They’re as thick as two short planks.’
‘You saw the press conference?’
‘You handled it well. You had to make a statement of some sort. Otherwise the media would have started sticking their noses in more than they already are.’
‘They’re a damn nuisance.’ Both had ordered a pint of Fuller’s London Pride, on tap, and a meat pie, a speciality of the house.
‘What do you have?’ MacTavish asked. He had already downed the first pint, ordered another.
‘Two murders and a missing woman.’
‘Apart from that.’
‘There are a few suspects for the murder of Charles Sutherland; none apparent for Sally Jenkins.’
‘Who would want to kill Sutherland? I’m told he was not the most pleasant person, but murder?’
‘Three had a strong enough reason for Sutherland.’
‘How do these people make so many enemies?’
‘A male chauvinist pig is an apt description for Sutherland.’
‘Not really relevant, is it?’
‘It will be if one of the women killed him.’
‘You know what I’m referring to.’
‘Marjorie Frobisher.’
‘Precisely. Where is this woman? Is she dead? Is she likely to be dead soon?’
‘Are you stating that if she’s not dead, she may be soon?’
‘Detective Superintendent, I don’t know.’
‘You have some updated information?’
‘I am aware that there is an assassination order out on her. Don’t ask me who or where or when.’
‘Why?’
‘I don’t know. That’s the truth.’
‘What do you want to do about this?’
‘If you find her, protect her,’ MacTavish said as he finished his third pint. Richard Goddard had just drunk one. He was prepared to order a half, but with MacTavish downing them so fast, he ordered another pint instead.
‘Assuming we find her, where do we protect her? If someone’s serious about killing her, are we being given the all clear to use violence?’
‘Don’t look for official permission from me or anyone else. If it goes wrong, everyone will deny responsibility.’
‘The risk seems too high.
‘That’s negative.’ MacTavish slammed his beer down on the table, the froth spilling out over the rim of the glass.
‘It seems realistic to me.’
‘With great risk comes great reward. Do you get my drift?’
‘I’m an ambitious man. I don’t deny that.’
‘And there’s an assistant commissioner’s position coming up shortly.’
‘Are you saying it’s mine if this is handled correctly?’
‘That’s up to Commissioner Shaw. He’s looking for a peerage. You look after us; we look after him. You know how it works, don’t you?’
‘Yes, of course. We’ll do what is necessary, but I’m not willing to put my men’s lives at risk.’
‘The black inspector looks to be a smart man. Ambitious, is he?’
‘Also very competent.’
‘He’ll be looked after as well.’
***
The question from Agnew at the press conference had interested Farhan. How did he know about the two women Christy Nichols had signed for?
The young detective inspector knew that it wasn’t necessarily the most secret piece of information. But failing a motive, it was one of their few possible lines of enquiry. Isaac was following up on Sally Jenkins’ murder, with Larry Hill providing assistance where he could. Wendy was trying to find the missing woman, and Richard Goddard’s last visit to the office had revealed that if Marjorie Frobisher was alive, it was up to the department to protect her at all costs.
Isaac had asked why, until their boss had taken him out of the room for a five-minute chat. On his return, Isaac ceased asking and acquiesced to his senior’s request. Farhan thought he should have been more persistent.
Too many unknowns Farhan thought, but kept his own counsel. Isaac believed that following up on how Agnew knew about the prostitutes was shooting in the dark. As he had reasoned, someone let them into the hotel, Christy Nichols had shown them into Sutherland’s suite, and numerous people had seen them leave.
As Farhan had explained to Isaac, they did not leave the hotel as women of the night. They would have changed, and to those moving around in the foyer of the hotel, they would have looked no different from the majority of the people there.
Farhan found himself at a variance with his DCI, who now seemed more focussed on Marjorie Frobisher than Charles Sutherland and Sally Jenkins.
Farhan was still living on his own, although the children were fine. His wife had instigated legal proceedings against him for the division of the assets ‒ meagre as they were ‒ and maintenance of the children.
Ironic, he had thought when he received the notification, that his wife, traditional and conservative, had no issues with embracing English law when it suited her. In her own country, she would not have found
