Chapter 60

Chapter 60

‘Are you sure you want to do this?'

Helen was leaning over her desk, staring down at her files, but looked up at Charlie now, a look of confusion on her face.

‘I think it's a bit late for second thoughts, Charlie. We've done the hard bit, now we have to see what they, what we , can turn up.'

Nodding distractedly, Charlie looked back into the incident room, clocking that DC Reid was watching their conversation through the open doorway. Crossing the floor quickly, she pushed the door to and was about to drop the blind, when Helen intervened.

‘Leave the blind up – we've nothing to hide. I don't want Jennings and his buddies thinking we're rattled.'

‘Aren't we?'

Charlie's question surprised Helen, who'd assumed from her bravura performance in the briefing that her deputy was on board.

‘What's eating you?' Helen enquired, keeping her tone light.

‘Look, I'm not questioning the direct of travel …'

‘But?'

‘But I'm just worried we're going to alienate the entire team. Jennings is clearly not the only one who's got reservations about investigating a fellow officer, purely on the basis of circumstantial witness testimony from a dealer and a very green probationer …'

‘Careful, Charlie, you're beginning to sound like management.'

‘I'm serious, Helen. Discreet background checks and quiet words are one thing, but tasking the whole of the unit with proving that one of their own is a rapist, a kidnapper, a killer even – that's a major step. Which will go down like a bucket of sick with the rank and file, not to mention Holmes. She'll hit the roof when she finds out, accusing you – accusing us – of deliberately trying to sully the reputation of this force. That worries me.'

‘It worries me too,' Helen replied candidly. ‘She hates me enough already, without handing her fresh ammunition. But I'm not going to let that stop me. PC Dave Reynolds is hiding something and I intend to find out what. If there's the remotest chance that he's responsible for Naomi's disappearance, I have to investigate, have to throw everything at it. I couldn't look Sheila Watson in the eye if I didn't. If that costs me my job, well so be it.'

‘Don't say that …' Charlie responded quickly, suddenly looking rather ill.

‘I mean it, Charlie. I will not be diverted or influenced by station politics. Or by the fact that everyone seems to think Dave Reynolds is a top bloke. I think there's something off about him and I intend to expose whatever it is that he's caught up in. But I would prefer not to do it alone. So can I count on you, Charlie? It's going to get messy, so I need to know you've got my back. Can I trust you to stick up for me, to be loyal at all times?'

‘Of course you can,' Charlie responded, agitated. ‘You know you can. But I wouldn't be a proper friend, a proper colleague, if I didn't warn you of the dangers, that's all.'

‘I consider myself warned, then. And I thank you. But my position remains the same.'

Charlie digested this, gathering her thoughts, before asking:

‘So what now then? We need concrete evidence that Reynolds has a history of offending, that he's a danger to women.'

‘Exactly, and if my hunch is right, those three historic complainants are just the tip of the iceberg. I'm guessing there'll be more victims out there, which is why we need to make our search bigger and louder, not quieter and more discreet.'

‘Meaning?'

In response, Helen hit the speaker function on her office phone and quickly dialled a number. The call rang briefly, then was answered, the operator's voice ringing out clearly:

‘ Southampton Evening News . How may I assist you?'

‘I'd like to speak to Emilia Garanita please. It's DI Helen Grace.'

The look on Charlie's face said it all, surprise and alarm wrestling for supremacy. Holding her hand over the mouthpiece, Helen stared intently at her colleague, as she concluded:

‘It's time to go nuclear.'