‘Thank you for calling, Jack, I will endeavour to convey what you’ve said to the commissioner this morning.’
‘Thank you, Sir, but I would appreciate it if I could be present.’
‘I doubt that will be possible...’
‘I’ll be at Scotland Yard this morning for you to update me,’ Jack said, ending the call before Broadbent could argue further.
Jack pushed back his chair and stood up. He was beginning to feel better about things. For the first time in his career, he had spoken up for himself, and it felt good. He hoped he could keep it up in front of the commissioner and the rest of the brass later. In the kitchen he saw that Penny had left the ironing board up beside a basket of laundry. He took the rolled-up invitation out of his pocket and switched on the iron. He waited only until the iron was warm enough, then ironed out the creases and slipped it back into his pocket.
After checking Morrison’s office, Collingwood tracked him down to the canteen. He was sitting at a corner table, his unfinished breakfast pushed to one side.
‘Morning, Sir, do you want the good news or the bad news?’
Morrison’s red-rimmed eyes glared at him. ‘Don’t try and be funny with me.’
‘Sorry, Sir, but I’ve just had the fire department’s forensic results from the gallery.’
‘Christ, was it fucking arson?’
‘They don’t think so. No accelerants were discovered.’
Morrison nodded. ‘That’s one less problem then.’
‘Seems so, Sir.’ Collingwood handed Morrison the file and went to the counter to get some breakfast.
Jack got an Uber and grabbed breakfast at a coffee bar near Scotland Yard. It was only 9.45 a.m. so he took his time finishing his macchiato and bagel before taking the short walk to the Yard.
Approaching the main desk, he showed his ID and explained that he was scheduled to meet with Detective Superintendent Broadbent and the commissioner. The young female uniformed officer checked the scheduled meetings on her computer. As Jack had hoped, he was now slated to attend.
‘You’re a bit late, I’m afraid,’ she said, frowning. ‘They’ve been in the main boardroom since nine.’ She gave him a lanyard and instructed him to go to the third-floor reception desk. Jack went through security, which included a thorough check of his briefcase, and took the lift. On the third floor he walked past the reception desk and straight to the double doors of the boardroom. He took a deep breath, then opened the doors and strode in.
Seated at one end of the oval-shaped table were Broadbent, the uniformed commander and the commissioner. They turned in surprise as Jack closed the door behind him and approached the table. Judging by the array of coffee mugs and empty plates, it was obvious to him that they had been closeted together for some time.
Broadbent stood up. ‘I was not expecting you until later this morning, Detective Warr.’
‘I wanted to be here as soon as possible after our conversation.’
Broadbent turned to introduce the two senior officers, who gave cold, hard stares but said nothing as Jack drew out a chair at the other end of the table.
The commissioner nodded for Broadbent to remain seated. He had a large file open in front of him. He laid his right hand on top of the thick stack of documents. ‘We have been looking at your career, which I find very impressive. You have proven yourself to be a skilled investigator with a strong understanding of forensic science and an excellent team spirit. The recent situation has been a shocking and damaging development for the Met’s policing. I have thoroughly reviewed the facts of the case and your subsequent wrongful arrest. I want to express my sincere regret for the distress it has caused you and your family. I have also taken into account your involvement in the arrest of Kurt Neilson and your determination to protect the many innocent lives that were at risk.’
Jack leaned back in his chair. The three men exchanged glances as if they had already discussed exactly what the commissioner would say. When he got no response from Jack, he coughed and after a pause, continued.
‘Detective Warr, we have prepared a statement for the press that we want you to review. We need to put a lid on all the speculation instigated by your disappearing act, for want of a better description.’
Broadbent was handed a typed single page with a Scotland Yard logo. He walked down the table to pass it to Jack and then returned to his seat.
Jack leaned on his elbows as he read over the statement. It was bullshit, explaining that to avoid identifying a senior undercover detective, they had withheld his identity for his safety. Jack finished reading and slid the page back down the table.
The commissioner then looked at Broadbent before he coughed. ‘Regarding your future within the Met, you informed DCI Broadbent in a call early this morning that you had every intention of resigning; understandable, as you were still under pressure from the media and had no wish to return to your present station.’
Jack nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself, while frequent glances were exchanged between the three senior officers. He could feel the tension in the room.
The commissioner continued. ‘We have thoroughly evaluated your actions and concluded that although you took some risks, they were justified by the outcome. After careful consideration, we have decided on the best course of action. Although it hasn’t been officially announced, we will soon be forming an elite team of highly experienced officers on a new homicide squad. This squad will focus solely on handling category A murder cases and will operate directly from Scotland Yard.’
He waited for Jack’s response and not getting one, continued. ‘We think it will be a very beneficial career move for you to be allocated a position on this squad. We all agree that you would be a valued addition, and so we are offering you this opportunity.’
Jack leaned back in his chair and gave them a polite nod. ‘I’d like to thank you for offering me this opportunity, but I’m afraid I cannot accept. I have thought a great deal about my future. Right now, at my last station, they are processing a manslaughter charge for an elderly widow whose pain-wracked husband begged her to take his life. I have found the emotional impact of dealing with these types of cases very disturbing, especially after the horrors of the Rodney Middleton case. That investigation, and the subsequent trial, took a heavy toll on me and my family, and so regretfully I am turning down the opportunity of working with a squad that only deals with murder investigations.’
The tension went up a notch as they looked at each other. Broad-bent pushed his chair back before speaking. ‘In that case, Detective Warr, are you intent on resigning?’
‘Not at all, Sir. I hope to be able to work in an area I’ve become very interested in. When I was arrested, I made it clear that my reason for being present at Detmar Steinburg’s gallery was my interest in art. More specifically, the business of art fraud.
The commissioner held up his pen. ‘I’m sorry, what has this got to do with wanting a transfer?’
‘Just as you are organising an elite murder squad, I want to head up an elite fraud squad specialising in uncovering fake artworks.’
Broadbent blinked rapidly and turned to the commissioner, who seemed equally taken aback. ‘As I’m sure you’re aware, Detective Warr, we already have a squad that deals with all types of fraud, and I believe this includes the sale of forged paintings.’
‘Not to the degree I want to focus on it, Sir. Right now, Sotheby’s employ, on a permanent basis, an art specialist who uses scientific methods to determine whether they are selling legitimate master-pieces or fakes. The market is huge and getting bigger. We need to keep pace with it.’