Read Online Power Games by Judith Cutler - Free Book Online Page B

in?’
    â€˜In about three weeks! He’s going to fly straight off to see his mum in Jamaica. His flight left – what, half an hour ago.’
    Â 
    Kate leaned her head against the car roof. She didn’t want to go, didn’t want to leave a case like this. But she had no option. She let herself in slowly. She’d not been to see Simon for a bit. What about a nice quiet chat with him while the traffic eased?
    He was just opening his
Big Issue
bag when Kate reached Sainsbury’s. She grinned at him, but didn’t stop to talk. She’d whiz round while it was relatively quiet. He knew, of course, that whatever she shoved in her basket would include stuff for him, but he always seemed pleased to see her for her own sake. At least, that was what she told herself, as she picked up high-protein snacks and the milk chocolate he loved.
    As she bought her
Big Issue
, she handed him a couple of folded notes. ‘I’m after a favour. And it may involve you lubricating a few throats,’ she explained as he stared at them. ‘Not necessarily the cleanest or the youngest throats.’
    â€˜Go on.’
    â€˜These warehouse fires – you know we found a body last week.’
    â€˜Poor bastard.’
    â€˜Quite. Except it was a woman. And we can’t get a handle on her. Any chance you could ask the odd question at the hostel?’
    He nodded. ‘I hate it, Kate. I’d rather be back in my little squat. The coughing. Other folks’ nightmares. I like a bit of privacy.’ He smiled, his face suddenly transfigured. ‘But I’m still alive. Thanks to you. And you never know – things might look up.’
    If only she could make him a firm offer, hard news for hard cash. ‘I’m sure they will. Just hang on in there, Simon. Just hang on in there.’

Chapter Seven
    Rowley pushed her sandwiches aside and looked quizzically at Kate: ‘No, don’t apologise. At least, not to me. It seems you’ve ruffled the odd feather down at Kings Heath nick. Or at least, one Guljar Singh Grewal has. Acting, I’d say, with a bit of a push from you.’ She gestured Kate to a seat.
    â€˜Me, Gaffer?’ Kate personified wide-eyed innocence. ‘No, all I did was find this woman’s body in the showers. And notice that someone – possibly, just possibly with the intention of making it hard to pinpoint the time of death – had Blu-tack’d the hair-dryers on. So it was nice and cosy in a room Scott of the Antarctic might normally have shivered in. It was actually Guljar who noticed that the centre’s computers were down. And he who checked that no one had got round to reporting the woman missing. It just seemed a bit funny to us, that’s all.’
    â€˜Funny enough to warrant a top-price autopsy instead of a bog-standard one? It’s upset my opposite number, Kate, that’s the problem. And he wants me to give you a flea in your ear.’ She leant forward, arms on desk, more like a headmistress about to give careers advice than a DI about to give a bollocking.
    â€˜And are you going to, Gaffer?’
    â€˜Well, I asked him a question or two, as it happens. Like had they found out who the lady in question was. And they’d got no idea. I take it you didn’t check her sports bag.’
    â€˜I didn’t want to tread on anyone’s toes, Gaffer,’ Kate said virtuously. Then she grinned. ‘But Guljar did, of course.’
    â€˜Fair enough. What would you have looked for if you had?’
    â€˜Car keys with a helpful fob. House keys ditto. After all, I didn’t see a handbag, and she was a bit grown up for a name-tape in her coat.’
    â€˜Anything else?’
    â€˜Anything to give us an idea who she was.’
    â€˜And there was nothing?’ Rowley shook her head.
    â€˜Not even a bus pass!’ Why was Rowley banging on about elementary police work? And now she was waving a half-eaten