resented the smugness of the scientific arm of the force, but he couldn’t deny its effectiveness in identifying killers. Even if it at times took longer to get answers out of them than he would have liked.
‘We’re moving on this as swiftly as we can, I assure you.’ Richard Kemp wasn’t a man to be rushed. Not that it ever stopped Broderick trying it on anyway.
‘By swift, you mean when exactly?’
Kemp, refusing to be drawn, simply continued with his work.
‘The fibres are a woollen weave. Dark blue jacket or coat, I’d say. Samples from both scenes match exactly. The curry powder is a basic mix. Good quality though. Possibly brought over from Morocco, but that’s just a guess I’m afraid. The tobacco is most probably Dutch. Aromatic.’
‘Popular brand?’ Broderick asked.
‘Well, definitely not a ‘Condor Moment’. I’d say it’s a rarer shag. Oh, and I just received this note before you came in... It appears that things
‘And?’ Broderick asked impatiently, barely believing that Kemp had kept that information until the end.
‘Not a match with Martin Tavares, I’m afraid.’
‘You’re certain?’
‘As certain as any member of the Glee Club can be, Chief Inspector,’
Kemp turned to Broderick, a slightly confrontational look in his eye. Broderick was certainly taken aback.
‘Ah,’ he managed.
‘Yes, we’ve heard your nickname for us up here,’ Kemp said, cocking his head to one side.
‘Well, its, uh... it’s just a bit of fun, Kemp,’ Broderick explained.
‘A little explanation would be appreciated.’ The scientist insisted.
‘I don’t know...it’s just that you all look a bit the same, I suppose. Like members of a choir
- or Glee Club- I suppose. You all seem a bit...you know...?’
Kemp was enjoying seeing Broderick struggle.
‘Might it be, Chief Inspector, that you feel we sometimes ‘show off’ a bit? What with our incredible skills and hugely successful results and all? Do we upset you in much the same way as the squeaky clean and cloyingly perfect cast of the similarly named television programme ‘Glee’ most probably does?’
‘I wouldn’t go quite that far.’ Broderick was now beginning to perspire.
‘So you have watched the programme, I take it? Kemp continued.
‘I’ve seen glimpses. My daughters like it.’
‘So I’m somewhere in the right neighbourhood? Am I not?’ Kemp queried.
‘Sort of. It’s just a joke you know,’ Broderick replied weakly.
Kemp saved his most withering look till last.
‘How
‘Right.’
‘Goodbye, Chief Inspector.’
Broderick turned and left the laboratory feeling like a naughty schoolboy.
‘Bollocks’, he murmured.
David Green had been sitting in the small study of the Tavares home, trying desperately to clear his mind. But instead of calm descending upon him, a new anxiety entered his thoughts. He could not explain the reason that led him to leave the study and climb the stairs towards Martin Tavares bedroom. He would just check on his brother-in-law, he thought, to make sure he was asleep. He knew that he had been asked not to bother him, but some nagging and inexplicable feeling was forcing him to make sure all was well.
He reached the door to the bedroom and knocked gently.
‘Martin?’
No answer. Opening the door, David could see straight away that the room was empty. Turning to check the other rooms and the bathroom, David called once more.
‘Martin!’
Again there was no answer and no sign of his brother-in-law anywhere. David started to panic. Moving downstairs now, he entered the kitchen. The back door was slightly ajar. He opened it fully and entered the garden. There was still no sign of Martin. It was then David heard the low throb of a car engine coming from within the garage. Three strides and he found himself frantically trying to turn the handle of the garage door. It was locked.
‘Martin!’
He gave himself a short run-up and attempted to shoulder-barge the door open. The hinges gave only a couple of inches, and only for a split second, but it was enough to reveal the horror of what was taking place inside.
‘Shit. Martin! Martin!’
Stepping back, David kicked full-force at the door, taking it clean off its hinges.
Broderick had managed to acquire a larger room on the second floor of the police HQ. Operations would now be run from there. Somewhat grudgingly, Massetti had given the nod to continue the Bryant/Ferra investigations, as well providing a few more officers to work it. Sullivan sat listening to her boss. Calbot meanwhile was back in the office and working the phones in pursuit of Gerald Gregson. It would appear that for now, Sullivan was going to be working both cases.
‘So basically, that means it’s not Martin Tavares,’ Broderick explained to the room. ‘At least not on his own. Check and cross-check anyone who might have had a grudge against these officers, starting with the brother-in- law.’
‘David Green?’ Sullivan asked.
‘Well, he’s been as upset as anyone over this. Where does he work?’
‘At St. Bernard’s Hospital,’ Sullivan explained. ‘He’s a porter. He was there when they brought Jennifer Tavares in.’
At that moment, the door to the ops room opened and Sergeant Aldarino entered with a flushed look on his face.
‘Sorry to interrupt, sir. It’s Martin Tavares. He’s tried to kill himself.’
17
Doctor Budrani and Broderick stood in the corridor leading to the A&E Department of the hospital. Budrani exuded the air of gravitas that most doctors perfect as part of their medical training. Sullivan and Calbot stood a respectable distance away, allowing Broderick to take the brunt of the news.
‘Mr Tavares was fortunate to have been discovered when he was, Chief Inspector. A few more minutes and he would most definitely have been dead. As it is, he’s suffering from severe carbon monoxide poisoning.’
‘Can I see him?’
‘Oh no, he’s far too weak for that.’
‘But he’ll be okay?’ Broderick enquired.
‘There, uh, might be some long-term effects.’ Budrani answered.
‘Like what?’
‘Well, it’s hard to tell. Some forms of neurological or psychological abnormalities may develop. These can take time to present, so very difficult to pinpoint. He’s got age on his side, but he did fall unconscious whilst breathing the fumes, so that will increase the likelihood of developing delayed symptoms.’
‘So he’s going to be a vegetable?’
‘Oh, no, I shouldn’t say so. It’s possible that short-term memory loss, amnesia, even dementia may result. Physically speaking, there may be the possibility of some speech abnormalities due to the oxygen starvation, but it really is far too early to tell.’
‘Christ, that bad?’
‘Well, the fire service detected just over nine thousand parts per million of carbon monoxide in the cockpit of the car. Put it this way – six thousand will see you dead within twenty minutes, twelve thousand within three
