you’ve considered how damaging your comments could prove.’
She gives him credit for his efforts to backfoot her, but William had predicted this tactic and warned against any platitudes on her part. ‘Stay on the offensive, darling.’
‘My comments reflect the views of my constituents, the people you and I serve. Your failure to act upon those views is damaging the police, not my rhetoric,’ she says.
He steeples his fingers and taps his nose. She simply waits, her smile sanguine. She has outwitted more complex characters than him before. She has kept her cool in situations more difficult than this.
‘Does central office know you intend to pursue this issue?’ he asks.
‘Of course. But you already know that,’ she answers.
He feigns innocence. ‘How could I?’
Time for them both to lay their cards on the table.
‘Your press office called mine this morning. If I was skiing off-piste they would have whipped me back in line and we wouldn’t be having this meeting. Since I have party backing you are obliged to take me seriously.’
‘What’s your next move?’ he asks.
‘Interviews with the press in the next hour,’ she replies. ‘Tell me you intend to investigate the girl and what I say will be more palatable.’
‘She’s not fit to be interviewed at present,’ he says.
‘Then we’ve nothing to discuss.’ She stands up and smooths her jacket from collar to hem. When she reaches the door, she turns. ‘This is a huge mistake.’
When he is sure she has left he picks up his phone.
‘Get me Jack McNally.’
Miriam did something she hated and shut the door to her office. A closed door meant she was off limits, too busy to speak, and when people had no one to speak to bad things happened.
‘Did she do it?’ she said.
Lilly shrugged. ‘She says not.’
‘Do you believe her?’
‘What the hell do I know, Miriam, I’m not a shrink.’
Miriam watched her friend and colleague run her fingers through her hair. She knew how seriously Lilly took her job and could see how tortured she was feeling. She also knew from the fatigue etched around Lilly’s eyes that old memories, and bad ones at that, were forcing their way into this mess.
‘Go home and get some rest.’
Why bother saying it when she knew Lilly couldn’t do that. Despite what her friend thought Miriam had kept a copy of Kelsey’s letter and was bound by no professional rules on disclosure. She could hand it over to Jack and put Lilly out of her misery. Let the authorities decide what should happen to Kelsey. It seemed such a sensible course of action, and yet she would never do it.
Miriam had her own set of rules that she had adhered to since the death of her son, and they had kept her going so far. To break them now would be a betrayal, not only to Kelsey but to the life that Miriam had created. People admired her unerring commitment to the children in her care, but she was not self-deluded and accepted that without it she would be just another grieving mother, and she was not strong enough to face that prospect. She felt for Lilly, but Miriam had her own ghosts to keep at bay. By protecting vulnerable children she protected herself. What did shrinks call it? Transference? Repression?
She put her hand over Lilly’s and was thinking about what to say when the door opened and Jack poked his head in.
‘Is this a hot girl moment or can anyone join in?’
The tension was broken and Miriam was glad to see Lilly laugh.
‘What can I do for you, Jack?’ asked Miriam.
He pulled Charlene into view. ‘I caught this one on the rob.’
The girl pulled at her dirty boob tube. ‘I didn’t do nothing.’
‘Those trousers just fell into your bag, I suppose,’ he said.
‘It’s a fit-up.’ Charlene pointed a stubby finger in his face. ‘You planted them on me.’
Jack pushed her hand away. ‘You watch too many films.’
‘Go to the television room, Charlene, I’ll speak to you in a moment,’ Miriam
She gives him credit for his efforts to backfoot her, but William had predicted this tactic and warned against any platitudes on her part. ‘Stay on the offensive, darling.’
‘My comments reflect the views of my constituents, the people you and I serve. Your failure to act upon those views is damaging the police, not my rhetoric,’ she says.
He steeples his fingers and taps his nose. She simply waits, her smile sanguine. She has outwitted more complex characters than him before. She has kept her cool in situations more difficult than this.
‘Does central office know you intend to pursue this issue?’ he asks.
‘Of course. But you already know that,’ she answers.
He feigns innocence. ‘How could I?’
Time for them both to lay their cards on the table.
‘Your press office called mine this morning. If I was skiing off-piste they would have whipped me back in line and we wouldn’t be having this meeting. Since I have party backing you are obliged to take me seriously.’
‘What’s your next move?’ he asks.
‘Interviews with the press in the next hour,’ she replies. ‘Tell me you intend to investigate the girl and what I say will be more palatable.’
‘She’s not fit to be interviewed at present,’ he says.
‘Then we’ve nothing to discuss.’ She stands up and smooths her jacket from collar to hem. When she reaches the door, she turns. ‘This is a huge mistake.’
When he is sure she has left he picks up his phone.
‘Get me Jack McNally.’
Miriam did something she hated and shut the door to her office. A closed door meant she was off limits, too busy to speak, and when people had no one to speak to bad things happened.
‘Did she do it?’ she said.
Lilly shrugged. ‘She says not.’
‘Do you believe her?’
‘What the hell do I know, Miriam, I’m not a shrink.’
Miriam watched her friend and colleague run her fingers through her hair. She knew how seriously Lilly took her job and could see how tortured she was feeling. She also knew from the fatigue etched around Lilly’s eyes that old memories, and bad ones at that, were forcing their way into this mess.
‘Go home and get some rest.’
Why bother saying it when she knew Lilly couldn’t do that. Despite what her friend thought Miriam had kept a copy of Kelsey’s letter and was bound by no professional rules on disclosure. She could hand it over to Jack and put Lilly out of her misery. Let the authorities decide what should happen to Kelsey. It seemed such a sensible course of action, and yet she would never do it.
Miriam had her own set of rules that she had adhered to since the death of her son, and they had kept her going so far. To break them now would be a betrayal, not only to Kelsey but to the life that Miriam had created. People admired her unerring commitment to the children in her care, but she was not self-deluded and accepted that without it she would be just another grieving mother, and she was not strong enough to face that prospect. She felt for Lilly, but Miriam had her own ghosts to keep at bay. By protecting vulnerable children she protected herself. What did shrinks call it? Transference? Repression?
She put her hand over Lilly’s and was thinking about what to say when the door opened and Jack poked his head in.
‘Is this a hot girl moment or can anyone join in?’
The tension was broken and Miriam was glad to see Lilly laugh.
‘What can I do for you, Jack?’ asked Miriam.
He pulled Charlene into view. ‘I caught this one on the rob.’
The girl pulled at her dirty boob tube. ‘I didn’t do nothing.’
‘Those trousers just fell into your bag, I suppose,’ he said.
‘It’s a fit-up.’ Charlene pointed a stubby finger in his face. ‘You planted them on me.’
Jack pushed her hand away. ‘You watch too many films.’
‘Go to the television room, Charlene, I’ll speak to you in a moment,’ Miriam
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