quick kiss of thanks that left traces of toast crumbs in her wispy hair, and was on his way out just as his son was stumbling down the stairs en route to the second sitting.
‘You’re off early, Dad. Working with Fenwick again?’
‘Aye, makes a change once in a while.’
Cooper lived within walking distance of Harlden Division, but today he would take the car. It took a couple of turns for it to start and he made a mental note to ask his son to have a look at it. He was a wonder with his hands, although being a mechanic at one of the local garages hadn’t exactly been what his dad had had in mind for him at first.
The seven-thirty news bulletin was just finishing as Cooper parked. He was only a little surprised to see that Fenwick was there already. Hey up, he thought to himself, I knew it was going to be one of those days.
The Chief Inspector was in his office looking cool, refreshed and eager. His eyes were bright and he was whistling to himself through a half-smile. Cooper hid his astonishment in a cough that brought Fenwick’s head up with a start.
‘Sergeant! Excellent. I had a feeling this was going to be a good day.’
Cooper shook his head, forgetting to turn his unhelpfully expressive face away. The ACC had stitched them up with this case, cancelled all leave for Easter and was now sitting back waiting to see the Chief Inspector he disliked most fail. And here was Fenwick, happy as a sandboy, without an apparent care in the world.
‘I know, Sergeant, I know. We’re not in a great situation, but it’s not hopeless either. I’ve had an idea and I’m going to join you today in this investigation!’
Cooper muffled a groan and unconsciously patted the lunch box under his arm.
‘We’ll interview Graham Wainwright, the other family members, the housekeeper and the management at the family firm, all very discreetly. I’m going to give us a day to see if we have grounds for further enquiry. Go and find DC Nightingale. She can help us out with the interviews.’
Cooper went to find Nightingale, fairly certain that she too would be in early. She was.
‘What are you up to?’
‘Packing, Sergeant. I’ve been sent off to the coast for three weeks over Easter.’
‘When do you leave?’
‘Tomorrow.’
‘Busy today?’
Nightingale’s heart quickened in anticipation.
‘No, sir. One or two reports to finish before I go, but they’re almost done and I can easily complete them tonight.’
‘I keep forgetting just how keen you graduates are.’
Nightingale was on the accelerated promotion scheme, and now that Cooper had grown used to the idea, and to Nightingale, he no longer resented the new-fangled privileges it gave her. Besides, he had never seen anyone other than DCI Fenwick work so hard.
‘Come on then, the Chief Inspector hasn’t got all day!’
Nightingale tried hard not to grin like an idiot as she followed Cooper’s broad back along the corridor.
* * *
Graham Wainwright had moved temporarily with Jenny to a country house hotel in one of the folds of the Sussex Downs five miles away. The three detectives became entangled in early commuter traffic and didn’t arrive until nearly half past eight. There were new lambs in the fields that bordered the twisting drive up to the hotel, and Fenwick, Nightingale and Cooper each privately relished the first proof that spring had to be close at hand despite the lingering wintry weather. Graham and Jenny were still asleep when they arrived, so they drank coffee in a deserted cigar-smelling guest lounge as they waited.
‘Nightingale, you talk to Jenny Reynolds separately, see what she thinks about Graham’s worries and find out who else we should talk to as unobtrusively as you can. Cooper and I will work on Graham.’
They had to call the room a second time and in the end Nightingale was sent up to their suite to encourage Graham downstairs. He descended grumbling and unshaven as Jenny greeted the startled Nightingale wearing only a
‘You’re off early, Dad. Working with Fenwick again?’
‘Aye, makes a change once in a while.’
Cooper lived within walking distance of Harlden Division, but today he would take the car. It took a couple of turns for it to start and he made a mental note to ask his son to have a look at it. He was a wonder with his hands, although being a mechanic at one of the local garages hadn’t exactly been what his dad had had in mind for him at first.
The seven-thirty news bulletin was just finishing as Cooper parked. He was only a little surprised to see that Fenwick was there already. Hey up, he thought to himself, I knew it was going to be one of those days.
The Chief Inspector was in his office looking cool, refreshed and eager. His eyes were bright and he was whistling to himself through a half-smile. Cooper hid his astonishment in a cough that brought Fenwick’s head up with a start.
‘Sergeant! Excellent. I had a feeling this was going to be a good day.’
Cooper shook his head, forgetting to turn his unhelpfully expressive face away. The ACC had stitched them up with this case, cancelled all leave for Easter and was now sitting back waiting to see the Chief Inspector he disliked most fail. And here was Fenwick, happy as a sandboy, without an apparent care in the world.
‘I know, Sergeant, I know. We’re not in a great situation, but it’s not hopeless either. I’ve had an idea and I’m going to join you today in this investigation!’
Cooper muffled a groan and unconsciously patted the lunch box under his arm.
‘We’ll interview Graham Wainwright, the other family members, the housekeeper and the management at the family firm, all very discreetly. I’m going to give us a day to see if we have grounds for further enquiry. Go and find DC Nightingale. She can help us out with the interviews.’
Cooper went to find Nightingale, fairly certain that she too would be in early. She was.
‘What are you up to?’
‘Packing, Sergeant. I’ve been sent off to the coast for three weeks over Easter.’
‘When do you leave?’
‘Tomorrow.’
‘Busy today?’
Nightingale’s heart quickened in anticipation.
‘No, sir. One or two reports to finish before I go, but they’re almost done and I can easily complete them tonight.’
‘I keep forgetting just how keen you graduates are.’
Nightingale was on the accelerated promotion scheme, and now that Cooper had grown used to the idea, and to Nightingale, he no longer resented the new-fangled privileges it gave her. Besides, he had never seen anyone other than DCI Fenwick work so hard.
‘Come on then, the Chief Inspector hasn’t got all day!’
Nightingale tried hard not to grin like an idiot as she followed Cooper’s broad back along the corridor.
* * *
Graham Wainwright had moved temporarily with Jenny to a country house hotel in one of the folds of the Sussex Downs five miles away. The three detectives became entangled in early commuter traffic and didn’t arrive until nearly half past eight. There were new lambs in the fields that bordered the twisting drive up to the hotel, and Fenwick, Nightingale and Cooper each privately relished the first proof that spring had to be close at hand despite the lingering wintry weather. Graham and Jenny were still asleep when they arrived, so they drank coffee in a deserted cigar-smelling guest lounge as they waited.
‘Nightingale, you talk to Jenny Reynolds separately, see what she thinks about Graham’s worries and find out who else we should talk to as unobtrusively as you can. Cooper and I will work on Graham.’
They had to call the room a second time and in the end Nightingale was sent up to their suite to encourage Graham downstairs. He descended grumbling and unshaven as Jenny greeted the startled Nightingale wearing only a
Similar Books
