Read Online A Box Full of Darkness (Wilson Book 5) by Fee Derek - Free Book Online

to be his shadow,’ Sinclair shouted. “He’s not to be allowed ramble around on his own. We need to control every direction he goes in.’
    ‘Easier said than done, sir,’ Jackson said. “You knew he was pretty sharp. If we stick too close and push too hard in one direction, he’s going to smell a rat.’
    ‘So, where’s he off to now?’
    ‘No idea.’
    ‘Fuck.’ The line went dead.

 
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
     
     
    Wilson was sitting in the snug at the Crown enjoying a pint of Guinness and awaiting the arrival of his “new best friend”. At five thirty exactly, Jock McDevitt pushed open the door of the snug and sat down across from Wilson.
    ‘I see you started without me,’ said McDevitt as he rang the bell that alerted the barman that a customer required serving. ‘I had to put today’s happenings in Court No 1 to bed before I could allow myself the consolation of a drink.’
    ‘Most unjournalistlike of you,’ Wilson laughed. ‘I thought you guys were permanently on the booze.’
    ‘Pint of Guinness, please,’ McDevitt said when the barman stuck his head into the snug. He turned to Wilson. ‘Not old Jock.’
    ‘So how did Kate do in court today?’
    ‘It’s moving in a logical direction,’ said McDevitt as he took the drink from the barman and took a long draught. ‘Gold is submerging the jury with a mountain of evidence showing that Cummerford is a serial killer. Your partner doesn’t appear worried by the guilty or not guilty issue. She’s continuing the line of questioning the police cock-up in the Francis McComber case, and the issue of her client’s mental state. I can see a plea of “guilty when the balance of her mind was disturbed by her mother’s terrible death and the refusal of the police to bring the killers to justice”. It might just work.’
    ‘In which case, Maggie Cummerford will be looking at a much reduced sentence.’ Wilson raised his glass in a toast.
    ‘Which would be a success for the brilliant Miss McCann,’ said McDevitt touching his glass. ‘But all this you could have learned from your partner this evening,’ McDevitt looked directly into Wilson’s eyes, and although he didn’t ask a question, it hung in the air.
    Wilson sighed. ‘Kate and I are on a “break” as they call it.’
    ‘So, there really was trouble in paradise? Something to do with Cummerford?’
    Wilson took a slug of his Guinness. ‘No, it’s personal. And I don’t want the whole world and his friend to know.’
    ‘So, fuck off McDevitt.’ He pressed the bell and ordered two more pints.
    ‘You got it in one.’ Wilson finished his drink.
    ‘Why am I here?’
    ‘I need your help.’
    ‘Did I hear right? You, Detective Superintendent Ian Wilson, needs the help of a lowly journalist on Northern Ireland’s leading rag.’
    ‘It’s not a joke.’ Wilson handed his empty glass to the barman and took a fresh pint. ‘I’ve started work in what’s loosely called a “task force” and I’m working on a specific case.’ He put up his hand. ‘Don’t ask me why. It’s just what it is. It’s a double murder that was committed in Belfast in 1974. The file is a heap of shit. On the face of it, it looks like a sectarian assassination of two young men playing football over near the Divis Flats.’
    ‘But?’
    ‘I’ve never seen a file so lacking in detail. It bothers the policeman in me.’
    ‘And how can I help?’
    ‘I need everything that the Chronicle published at the time.’ Wilson toasted and then drank.
    McDevitt’s brow furrowed. ‘It probably wasn’t much. That kind of event was commonplace back then. It mightn’t even have made the front page, and even if it did, it would have been a fleeting visit.’
    ‘It doesn’t matter how small the articles are, make me a copy.’
    “And you’ll return the favour?’
    ‘Of course, you’re my new best friend and best friends help each other out.’
    ‘I’ve got news for you, pal, nobody gives a shit for what happened