Chapter 118

Chapter 118

‘I would like to start by offering my profound and sincere apologies to the families of Naomi Watson, Mia Davies, Shanice Lloyd and Laura White. Hampshire Police let them down, just as they let down the many other young women and girls who were targeted by PC David Reynolds during his time as an officer on this force.'

Chief Superintendent Rebecca Holmes was working hard to appear penitent, but the atmosphere in the room was hostile, the assembled journalists determined to call her to account for a catastrophic failure of safeguarding and leadership. Helen felt it too, indeed she shared their fury, her gaze singling out Emilia Garanita, who was primed to strike. Part of Helen was tempted to join in, to castigate the station chief, but that was obviously out of the question. So instead she swallowed her anger, listening with interest as Holmes continued.

‘We obviously have a long road to go down to recover public trust, to reassure the good people of this city that they can have confidence in the men and women of this force, whose job it is to keep the public safe from harm. We will work night and day, I will work night and day, to ensure that we learn from the mistakes of the past and that the officers who are lucky enough to serve the people of Southampton are worthy of their trust and respect.'

Helen winced, aggravated by the mention of the past, as if Reynolds' offending belonged to an era before Holmes' clumsy intervention, but kept her counsel. She was aware that Emilia Garanita's gaze had drifted towards her, perhaps expecting dissent. But there was no way Helen was going to open the wound still wider by a public act of rebellion.

‘Today is a moment of reckoning for Hampshire Police, a wake-up call. We must learn some painful lessons, take our medicine. The world is changing and we must change with it. I'd like to go on record to thank those brave women who felt able to come forward to tell us of David Reynolds' crimes. Without them the full extent of Reynolds' offending might never have come to light. I applaud them for their courage and their strength.'

That, at least, they could agree on. If it hadn't been for the bravery of women like Tara Bridges, and the half a dozen others who'd subsequently come forward after her, Reynolds' secretive, sickening reign of terror might never have been revealed. For all that, however, for all that Holmes' words seemed honest, empathetic and apologetic, Helen could sense a ‘but' coming, as if this very public act of contrition was only skin-deep.

‘Our job now is to acknowledge their suffering, applaud their courage and learn from their experience. We as a force must do better, must institute real change, to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again …'

Holmes seemed to be warming to the occasion now, almost enjoying the carefully scripted lines given to her by Media Liaison.

‘That is our collective mission, our collective resolve. And I've no doubt that we will rise to the challenge for the simple reason that the vast majority of men and women who wear the uniform of Hampshire Police are good, loyal, dedicated public servants. David Reynolds was a rogue officer, secretive and shrewd, who hid his depravity from those closest to him.'

Helen could feel her hackles rising, surprised to find herself taking a step forward, as if wanting to throw herself bodily into the fray.

‘The leadership of this force is sound, its systems and protocols are sound,' Holmes continued. ‘Its officers are sound. But historic failings in the management of beat officers like David Reynolds, a misguided sense of loyalty to an experienced and well-liked police constable, a concern to avoid reputational damage, led to this appalling sequence of events. That stops today. I will not let that happen on my watch. And I will personally lead the process of change.'

Holmes was visibly puffing herself up with each phrase. Helen could hardly credit it. Here was a woman who had committed all these misdemeanours – protecting Reynolds, gaslighting Helen, trying to bury the whole sorry story – championing herself as the instigator of the change, a beacon of light in the darkness.

‘My prime responsibility is to this force, but more than that, it is to the people of this great city, so today I make this pledge. I will protect the rights of women and girls everywhere. I will ensure that everyone wearing the badge is upright, honest and trustworthy. I will ensure that the awful case of PC David Reynolds is a one-off, you have my word on that.'

She stared out at the assembled faces, determine, triumphant, before adding:

‘Now, as I'm sure you'll understand, I have a lot of work to do, but I do have time for a few questions.'

Looking over Emilia Garanita's head, Holmes pointed to a friendly journalist at the back of the room. Livid, Helen didn't linger to hear the question, moving away fast towards the door. She had come here hoping to hear news of real change, a shift in the whole culture at Southampton Central, perhaps even a resignation speech from the woman who had done so much to stymie her investigation into PC David Reynolds. But instead, she had witnessed a masterclass in obfuscation and avoidance, culminating in a kind of warped victory parade. Normally, Helen stuck these things out, determined to show loyalty to the people, the institution, she had served for over thirty years, but today she couldn't stomach it.

She was sick of Holmes. She was sick of the lies. She was sick of this place.