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Authors: Lynda La Plante
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she hadn’t said anything about Anna’s attitude. ‘I didn’t realize you were so close.’
‘It’s more mutual respect now. She’s helped me through hard times and defended me when the top brass were breathing down my neck. After Ken was murdered she changed. The job became her lifeblood.’
‘She sounds like a good ally to have on your side,’ Dewar said sheepishly.
‘She is, and you can learn a lot from her, even in a short space of time,’ Langton said as he stepped into the lift.
Anna closed the door quietly and stepped back to the washbasins. With mixed emotions she stood and took a good look at herself in the mirror. Although proud that Langton had spoken so highly of her abilities, she felt tainted with guilt. She knew when Langton mentioned her defending him against the top brass he was referring to Deputy Commissioner Walters’ internal investigation into the Fitzpatrick case, and she was only too aware that her old boss still had no idea that she had betrayed his trust. It pained her to think, Walters’ slyness aside, that she was part of the reason he had still not made Commander.
‘Hi, Anna. Paul Simms here.’ Anna had been on her way back to her office when her mobile rang. ‘Sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. Brian and I have moved into a new house together and it’s been a bit of a nightmare trying to decide where to put everything. You’ll have to come to the house-warming.’
‘Thanks. Bring a bottle, I take it,’ Anna said.
‘Bring a man as well, if you like. He may never get out alive with half the gay police association here!’
Anna laughed. Although she hadn’t spoken with Paul Simms for a long time he was still as cheerful as ever.
‘What can I do for you?’
‘It’s about the Joshua Reynolds case you dealt with last November . . .’
‘The guy who shot himself – it’s all done and dusted now. The Coroner’s verdict was suicide.’
‘I know, but I need to sit down and speak with you about it.’
‘Is there a problem?’ Simms asked, apprehensively.
‘There’s a remand prisoner who’s making spurious allegations about Reynolds’ death,’ Anna said, keen not to cause alarm.
‘So why’s the file with you and not back on my desk?’
‘It’s complicated, but nothing to worry about. What about I buy you breakfast tomorrow morning? You can choose the venue.’
‘In that case the Wolseley in Piccadilly. I’ll book it for seven a.m.’
As Anna hung up she knew that going over Paul’s original investigation was going to be a delicate situation and that a delicious breakfast wouldn’t be enough to prevent her old friend and colleague getting hurt.
Chapter Seven
Anna decided it was her turn to drive as she and Dewar made their way to Reynolds’ old flat at Kingsborough Terrace, Bayswater. During the three-mile journey Dewar was noticeably subdued and didn’t speak. Anna wondered if she was thinking about the words of advice that Langton had given her or just feeling sorry for herself. Either way she just hoped there would be a change for the better in Dewar’s attitude towards her, the team and the investigation.
Anna parked the car at the rear of the block of six flats. As they walked around to the front of the building Anna remarked that the flats looked fairly new and that property in the Bayswater area of London was very expensive. On approaching the entrance on the main road, they saw a man in his mid-forties, neatly dressed in a grey double-breasted pinstripe suit, repeatedly looking at his watch. Dewar asked him if he was Mr Dobbs from the letting agents. He confirmed he was and commented that they were late and he had a strict schedule to adhere to as he had other properties to show prospective tenants around.
‘I’m Special Agent Dewar from the FBI and this is DCI Travis. We are reinvestigating the death of Joshua Reynolds and we want to familiarize ourselves with the layout of the apartment. We will be here for as long as it
‘It’s more mutual respect now. She’s helped me through hard times and defended me when the top brass were breathing down my neck. After Ken was murdered she changed. The job became her lifeblood.’
‘She sounds like a good ally to have on your side,’ Dewar said sheepishly.
‘She is, and you can learn a lot from her, even in a short space of time,’ Langton said as he stepped into the lift.
Anna closed the door quietly and stepped back to the washbasins. With mixed emotions she stood and took a good look at herself in the mirror. Although proud that Langton had spoken so highly of her abilities, she felt tainted with guilt. She knew when Langton mentioned her defending him against the top brass he was referring to Deputy Commissioner Walters’ internal investigation into the Fitzpatrick case, and she was only too aware that her old boss still had no idea that she had betrayed his trust. It pained her to think, Walters’ slyness aside, that she was part of the reason he had still not made Commander.
‘Hi, Anna. Paul Simms here.’ Anna had been on her way back to her office when her mobile rang. ‘Sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. Brian and I have moved into a new house together and it’s been a bit of a nightmare trying to decide where to put everything. You’ll have to come to the house-warming.’
‘Thanks. Bring a bottle, I take it,’ Anna said.
‘Bring a man as well, if you like. He may never get out alive with half the gay police association here!’
Anna laughed. Although she hadn’t spoken with Paul Simms for a long time he was still as cheerful as ever.
‘What can I do for you?’
‘It’s about the Joshua Reynolds case you dealt with last November . . .’
‘The guy who shot himself – it’s all done and dusted now. The Coroner’s verdict was suicide.’
‘I know, but I need to sit down and speak with you about it.’
‘Is there a problem?’ Simms asked, apprehensively.
‘There’s a remand prisoner who’s making spurious allegations about Reynolds’ death,’ Anna said, keen not to cause alarm.
‘So why’s the file with you and not back on my desk?’
‘It’s complicated, but nothing to worry about. What about I buy you breakfast tomorrow morning? You can choose the venue.’
‘In that case the Wolseley in Piccadilly. I’ll book it for seven a.m.’
As Anna hung up she knew that going over Paul’s original investigation was going to be a delicate situation and that a delicious breakfast wouldn’t be enough to prevent her old friend and colleague getting hurt.
Chapter Seven
Anna decided it was her turn to drive as she and Dewar made their way to Reynolds’ old flat at Kingsborough Terrace, Bayswater. During the three-mile journey Dewar was noticeably subdued and didn’t speak. Anna wondered if she was thinking about the words of advice that Langton had given her or just feeling sorry for herself. Either way she just hoped there would be a change for the better in Dewar’s attitude towards her, the team and the investigation.
Anna parked the car at the rear of the block of six flats. As they walked around to the front of the building Anna remarked that the flats looked fairly new and that property in the Bayswater area of London was very expensive. On approaching the entrance on the main road, they saw a man in his mid-forties, neatly dressed in a grey double-breasted pinstripe suit, repeatedly looking at his watch. Dewar asked him if he was Mr Dobbs from the letting agents. He confirmed he was and commented that they were late and he had a strict schedule to adhere to as he had other properties to show prospective tenants around.
‘I’m Special Agent Dewar from the FBI and this is DCI Travis. We are reinvestigating the death of Joshua Reynolds and we want to familiarize ourselves with the layout of the apartment. We will be here for as long as it
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