Adam Fawley
6 April 2018
09.35
Gis has already started the team meeting by the time I get there. I wait at the back, but I can tell the mood isn't good. An initial search of Ashley Brotherton's associates hasn't turned up any promising suspects, and the news from the scene is hardly encouraging either. A notice has been set up on the main road, appealing for witnesses, but there's still no sign of Sasha's bag or phone, never mind the murder weapon. They can't even be sure she went into the river where we thought. The rain is defeating everyone, dogs included.
Gislingham sums all this up neatly and concisely `“ he's got a lot better at doing that recently, so it surprises me that he seems so tense. Perhaps it's just what he was forced to witness at the PM. He's made at least one good decision though: three other DCs who aren't usually on this team have been drafted in. And he's right: we need all the bodies we can get on this one. And no, I'm not going to apologize for the pun.
I wait until Gis's report is over then join him at the front.
`OK, everyone, I know this is all we need right now, but you should be aware that Harrison will be issuing a press statement on Monday morning. There's going to be a review of the Roadside Rapist case. Only informal, at this stage, but there's no guarantee it won't end up with a full referral to the CCRC.'
People steal glances at each other, not sure how to react. It's one thing being aware there was a potential issue, it's quite another for the powers that be to go public on it. That makes a difference. To clean-up rates, careers, even to loyalties. At least that's what I'd be thinking in their place. And there's a definite undercurrent in this room, no question.
`I know this is going to put extra pressure on everyone, and there's bound to be a hell of a lot in the media. All of it inflammatory and most of it about Alastair Osbourne. Or about me. But none of it about you. So just stick to the job and don't let the shitstorm distract you. And don't speak to bloody journalists, even with the best of intentions. It never ends well.'
`Actually, sir,' says Gislingham. `About that `“'
I open my mouth to answer, but the sound of the door at the back forestalls me. The woman who's just entered is mid-height, angular, in a neat tweed trouser suit. Her hair is shorter and lighter than when I last saw her. She looks rather like Lia Williams. As well as open, positive and confident. Everything I don't feel right now, in fact.
I look round the team. `Everyone, this is DI Ruth Gallagher. She's going to be taking over the Blake and Appleford inquiries from here on in.'
You can hear the intake of breath, see the furtive looks, the glances at Gallagher they don't want me to spot. Two parts shock to one part embarrassment. I suppose it's only to be expected, but to be honest I haven't got a bloody clue what's `expected' in a situation like this. This is all new to me; I've never been taken off a case before.
I catch Gallagher's eye, invite her forward. `Do you want to say anything?'
She steps a little further into the room. `Not yet, I think. I need to familiarize myself with the case notes first. And I have a lot of catching up to do on the Parrie investigation. But this team has an excellent reputation; I look forward to working with you.'
She handled that well, I'll give her that. Not throwing her weight about, not muscling in. Unassuming but businesslike. `Inclusive', as HR would no doubt say. But she must have picked up on the unease because she takes another step forward. `Let's all be clear. No one is saying DI Fawley did anything wrong or that Gavin Parrie's conviction is anything other than rock solid. But we all know what it's like these days with the press and social media on our backs all day every day `“ it's not fair, and it's a pain in the arse, but there it is.'
She tries a smile, and I try one too.
I take a deep breath, feel my chest tighten. Because I've finally reached it. The point of escalation. The Rubicon I won't be able to reverse.
I turn to the team. `There's something else. I should have said something before, I know, but there was always a chance it wouldn't come to this. Anyway, I hope you'll understand why I didn't. One of the women Parrie attacked `“ she was called Sandie Sheldon.'
There's something wrong `“ I can't read their faces.
`Two years after the attack, she got married. To me. Sandie Sheldon `“ Alexandra Sheldon `“ is my wife.'
Gis clears his throat. `Yes, sir,' he says quietly. `We know.'
* * *
***
Adam Fawley
6 April 2018
09.52
`What do you mean, you know?'
Gis looks self-conscious, but only a little and only briefly. More than that, he looks annoyed. And let down.
Shit.
`When you first told us about Parrie,' he says, `we thought `“ well, I thought `“ that it was possible we were looking at a copycat, in which case we needed to know how much of Parrie's MO someone could have picked up just from reading about the trial.'
Which is exactly what I'd have done, in his place. Only I didn't need to. I was there.
`That's when we realized: the defence brief `“ he called her Alexandra.'
`She used to shorten it to Sandie back then,' I say, my throat cracking. `She doesn't any more.'
I risk a look at Somer. And I can see: she understands that bit, at least. Just as Faith Appleford might understand, if she were here. The overwhelming need to start again. To have a new name, a clean slate. A chance to forget.
`You should have told us,' says Ev softly. `We'd have been on your side.'
And they aren't now, is that what she means?
I swallow hard.
`I'm sorry if anyone feels let down. I know I should have told you before. But I wanted to protect my wife. That's all. Not myself or my poxy career. My wife.'
I turn to Gallagher, and I can see how uncomfortable she is. How much she'd give not to be in this room right now. `It's your case now `“ I'm not going to interfere. But I still care about getting this bastard. So if you need me, ask, OK?'
She nods. `Yes,' she says. `I will.'
* * *
Gislingham watches the door swing shut behind Fawley. And now everyone is looking from him to Gallagher and back again.
So now what? he thinks. It's not that he's unsympathetic `“ he'd have moved heaven and earth to protect Janet, if she'd been in that situation. But all the same `“
`Sergeant?' says Gallagher, giving him a meaningful look. She's clearly expecting him to keep calm and carry on regardless of the amount of shit piled in the way.
He sighs inwardly; just his bloody luck. I mean, this Gallagher woman has a good rep, but you never know, not until the crap hits the fan.
`Right,' he says, taking a deep breath. `Best idea for us is to stick to our knitting. Get this bloody case sorted once and for all.'
He picks up the pen and goes over to the whiteboard. `Way I see it, right now we have four possibilities. One: what happened to Faith and Sasha `“ the plastic bag, the cable ties, Faith's ripped hair `“ it has nothing to do with Gavin Parrie and it never did. It's all just one hell of a sodding coincidence.'
Silence. The whole team knows how Fawley feels about coincidences. But this time it's different: this time a coincidence is the one thing that would get the DI off the hook.
`Two,' says Gis. `The man who attacked Faith and Sasha is the same man who committed the Roadside Rapes, which means the real killer not only managed not to get caught, but not even to get bloody questioned. Which, OK, has happened `“ we all know that.'