Read Online Heaven's Door by Michael Knaggs - Free Book Online

constable consulted her notebook. “Subject was observed walking towards Mansfield Road and was approached by one Darren Hargreaves, who is well known to us. Brief conversation ensued, developing into quite an argument. It looked like it was going to kick off, in fact, and a few other people looked like getting involved. Anyway, it all calmed down and Hargreaves left.”
    She looked up from her notes. She was in her early thirties; average height, with dark hair cut very short, and was smartly dressed in a black trouser suit.
    â€œLeft where?” asked the detective inspector.
    â€œWent back across the road and down a side street.” She checked her notes again. “Mill Street, it was.”
    The DI, in his everyday grey suit, stood up and paced back and forth behind his chair.
    â€œSo with this, we’ve got twelve separate incidents, eight different people, six on camera and two live.”
    â€œAnd the phone calls, sir.”
    â€œAnd the phone calls,” he repeated.
    â€œIncluding the guys who are coming in tomorrow to talk to us.”
    â€œIf they ever show up.” He turned to his colleague. “So, what do you think?”
    â€œI think it’s building up nicely.”
    He sighed and stretched.
    â€œNicely is not the word I would use.”

    *
    â€œSylvie!” Tom opened his arms wide as he entered his office and the reporter turned towards him. Her mouth twitched a little with just the ghost of a smile, but there was no preamble, no pleasantries, just a formal handshake without the usual proffered cheek – or lips, as was more often the case.
    â€œSylvie?” Tom frowned, holding on to her hand. She pulled it away with some discomfort and embarrassment.
    â€œThey’re waiting to do the sound checks,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “Ten minutes to go…”
    They faced each other in large wing chairs in the corner of Tom’s office across a low table on which Sylvie had placed, immediately in front of her, a single sheet of A4. The technicians finished fitting and testing the radio microphones and the lighting engineer adjusted the filters on the spot lamps. Two cameras were positioned to pick up each of Tom and Sylvie face-on with a third to cover a side shot of both. The actual interview was being broadcast unedited but with a five minute delay, and was being picked up by CNN, most European channels and BBC World Service radio.
    â€œReady, folks?” The director stood behind the side camera and counted down. “Four, three, two, one,
go.
”
    The camera zoomed in close on Sylvie who smiled into the lens. In her late-thirties but looking much younger, she was just above average height, with a trim figure accentuated in all the right places. Her hair was dark blonde in a simple style, just long enough to frame her face, which was round and pretty with full lips and deep brown eyes. She was wearing a dark blue trouser suit over a cream shirt, a change from her usual short dress or skirt.
    â€œI’m here in the office of the Home Secretary, Mr Tom Brown, to talk to him about his recent first review of the New Justice Regime and put to him questions raised by his speech to the House yesterday. Many of you will have seen the Home Secretary’s morning press conference, which finished just a few minutes ago,” she turned towards Tom. “So, we are very grateful for your giving up more time at what must be a very busy period.”
    Tom nodded, without smiling, and said nothing. Sylvie hesitated for just a moment.
    â€œHome Secretary, I will not ask you to go through the full list of items again. You’ve done that twice in the past twenty-four hours. I’d like to focus on one aspect of your report or rather an issue, which arises from it. I think you know which one I’m referring to?”
    â€œWell, it could be any number of things, I suppose. For example, how was it possible to achieve so many of the