Chapter 66

Chapter 66

‘Are you seriously telling me you're not responsible for this?'

Helen knew Rebecca Holmes had fire in her belly, but she'd never seen her so incandescent as she was this morning. Breaking eye contact, Helen looked down at the offending newspaper, Emilia's shocking headline leaping out at her. The journalist had been as good as her word, her exposé, her attack, was devastating.

‘If you knew the full history of my relationship with Emilia Garanita, you wouldn't even suggest it,' Helen replied evenly. ‘We've never exactly been best friends.'

‘Oh come off it, Helen. How green do you think I am?'

Her superior's tone was caustic, withering, but Helen said nothing. Emilia had at first been surprised by Helen's call, then only too pleased to help once she discovered what her former nemesis was proposing, but there was no way Helen was going to offer that up.

‘You've had it in for PC Reynolds from the off. You're the only one who knew about these past accusations …'

She gestured dismissively to the newspaper.

‘And the only one with sufficient brass neck to leak them to the press.'

‘I can only repeat what I've already said, ma'am,' Helen responded carefully. ‘Garanita and I hate each other, always have done. The idea of us colluding together is laughable.'

‘So where did she get all this from then?' Holmes demanded. ‘She's got the lot – dates, times, locations. In fact, I'll bet she's got an actual copy of Reynolds' HR file, the leaking of which I shouldn't have to remind you is a criminal offence.'

‘Then I sincerely hope you get to the bottom of it. Nobody likes a leaky ship.'

‘I think I've already got to the bottom of it,' Holmes fired back angrily. ‘I think the culprit is standing directly in front of me. Motive, means and opportunity, Helen. The holy trinity. And you had all of them, despite your alleged aversion to Garanita.'

‘Call her then. Ask her,' Helen demanded stridently. ‘My conscience is clean.'

‘As if she'd ever reveal her sources. I wouldn't waste my breath.'

‘Well then, I presume you have some other evidence that I was responsible for these leaks? After all, every member of the Major Incident Team had access to that information.'

‘Don't try to cloud the issue, Helen. It was you .'

‘So why aren't Professional Standards here?' Helen hit back. ‘If you're so convinced of my involvement?'

‘Look, I may not have the smoking gun,' Holmes countered. ‘But that doesn't mean that you can play fast and loose with this investigation or the reputation of Southampton Central.'

‘Meaning?'

‘Meaning I'm taking you off the case. Effective immediately.'

For a moment, Helen was speechless, staggered by the audacity of this move.

‘You have been insubordinate, obstructive and, frankly, wilful from the word go. I'm hoping that DS Brooks values her career more highly than you do, that she can toe the line, set an example …'

‘With respect, ma'am, I think that would be a seriously bad move. One you might come to regret.'

‘Are you threatening me, DI Grace?' the station chief roared, her eyes blazing.

‘No, I'm just thinking of the optics of this situation. And the reputation of this force. The whole city is talking about this story – the local radio and TV stations, the news feeds, not to mention the thousands of concerned citizens poring over the terrible headlines this morning. They are all justly worried about a culture of misogyny and lawbreaking within Hampshire Police, a culture that has fostered rapists and killers, men who think they are above the law, who prey on women and girls with impunity …'

Furious, Holmes tried to intervene, but Helen talked over her.

‘Yet you appear intent on removing Southampton Central's most decorated, best-known female detective from the case? Sidelining her to shield those very same rapists and killers, all in the interests of protecting your station from "reputational damage". Pull me off this investigation, throw me to the dogs, and I promise you the public outrage will be threefold what it is now. So think carefully about your next move, ma'am. Because I'd hate for you to make a bad situation a whole lot worse.'

Holmes was staring at her, looking for all the world as though she wanted to vault over the desk and strangle Helen there and then. Yet with each passing second of silence, Helen knew she had beaten her, the threat of personal, reputational damage too much for her superior to stomach. Holmes was an accomplished politician, but she was not a street fighter, having spent too long on management courses and too few hours on the front line. If Helen had to fight dirty, she'd have no hesitation in doing so and, in that event, there would only ever be one winner. Holmes might try to clip her wings, but Helen would meet every challenge head-on, using any and all means at her disposable. She would not be sidelined by a pen-pusher like Holmes. She would not be undermined by a snake like Jennings. She would fight tooth and nail to the end, leading this investigation with all the fire, zeal and determination she could muster.

Naomi's survival depended upon it.