‘Then let’s go and have that drink.’
She picked up her pocket notebook and Rachel’s notes, then returned to the main office, where she saw the PNC printouts on her desk.
‘Thanks for these, Katie,’ she said, picking them up.
‘My pleasure. How’d it go with Kingston? Was he pleased with your information?’ Katie asked, avoiding eye contact.
‘Some of it, but he wants me to make further enquiries over the weekend — see if I can “firm up” what I’ve got before approaching Murphy.’
‘That’s sound advice. What have you got so far?’
She forced a smile as Jane unlocked the drawer in her desk and put in her pocket notebook with Rachel’s notes.
‘Not as much as I thought, but hopefully I’ll uncover more. Kingston said to ask if you wanted to join us for a drink at the Prince of Wales.’
Jane locked the drawer and pocketed the key.
‘I’d love to but I’m out tonight and I’ve got a couple of things to finish off here before I head home.’
‘Maybe another time then — just the two of us.’
Still smiling tightly, Katie said, ‘I’d like that. Be good to get to know each other a bit better.’
Kingston walked out of his office and looked at Jane.
‘Ready to go?’
She picked up her coat and bag. ‘Katie’s out tonight so she won’t be joining us.’
‘That’s a shame. See you Monday then.’
He walked past Katie without looking at her.
Once Jane and Kingston had gone, Katie went to the window and watched Jane get in her car and follow Kingston down the road. She waited a few minutes, then grabbed her handbag and coat and left the office.
Kingston paid the barman for a pint of lager and a white wine, then took the drinks over to Jane, who was sitting at a small round table by the window.
‘You want something to eat?’ he asked, before taking a sip of his drink.
‘Are you having anything?’
‘Their scampi and chips in a basket isn’t bad — we could share if you’re not that hungry.’
‘One between us would be great.’ She reached into her bag. ‘I’ll pay for it.’
‘No, you won’t.’
He put his hand on her shoulder before going back to the bar to order the food.
Jane wondered why such a nice bloke had got himself involved with Katie. It struck her that maybe he wanted out, but was worried Katie would react by telling his wife.
‘I ordered some bread and butter to go with it,’ he said as he sat down. ‘I forgot to ask you this earlier, but have you done background checks on the Wilson sisters?’
Jane nodded. ‘No trace in the CRO, and the electoral register confirms them living at the Broadwater Farm.’
‘What else do you know about them?’
‘Not a lot, other than their parents were killed in a car crash, and they were badly injured — that’s how Rachel became deaf. Their uncle looked after them for a bit, but couldn’t cope, so he put them in a children’s home. Beyond that I didn’t go into any detail about their past.’
‘Well, you need to check them out a bit more—’
‘They seemed genuine enough to me; I’ve no reason to think they’ve lied.’
Jane was slightly vexed by his implication that they might be dishonest.
‘I’m not saying they lied to you, but Murphy will want to know if they are credible witnesses — and the courts, if we get that far. It’s to your advantage if they’re whiter than white.’
Jane nodded. ‘I understand, but I think they’re decent people, and I do feel for them. They’ve been suffering verbal and physical abuse from some of the younger residents on the estate and are trying to get rehoused. They’ve written numerous letters to the council but each one’s been rejected.’
‘I know how tough Broadwater Farm can be. I was the DI at Tottenham for two years, so I know loads of residents apply for a move. It could just be they are well down the list.’
‘I was wondering if you knew anyone on the council who has a sympathetic ear?’
‘Can’t say I do. Have they reported the incidents to the local plods?’
‘No, they’re worried if police start asking questions on the estate, they’ll be subjected to even more abuse and intimidation. Are there any detectives at Tottenham who might be able to help?’
‘There’s a couple I can think of, but it depends on how you want it dealt with.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, there’s the heavy-handed approach — i.e. scare the shit out of the little bastards so they don’t do it again — or the more subtle approach to the council, telling them that if they can’t get the sisters a move they may well go to the press about the council’s lack of care for the deaf community.’
‘What about getting them a move under the witness protection program?’
‘You don’t know for sure yet that what Rachel told you is reliable. If the men were arrested and/or charged as a result of her information, then that’s a different matter. My advice would be to hold off on helping them for the time being. Then, if your further investigation pans out, we can review the situation and maybe get the witness protection unit on board.’
‘Should I at least tell them to report the incidents to the local officers?’
‘That would be a good start. I’ll contact DS Rickman at Tottenham — he’s the best man there to deal with it. I understand your feelings about Rachel and Emma, but you mustn’t let it cloud your judgement.’
‘Thanks for the advice.’
Jane took a sip of her drink. It was good to know there was someone in the office she could trust.
Katie parked her car, then got out and put on her coat and headscarf, before taking a deep breath and walking down the road towards the Prince of Wales. From the other side of the street she looked through the large front window of the pub, where she spotted Jane and Kingston sitting close together, engrossed in conversation and appearing to enjoy each other’s company.
The waitress came over with their food.
‘Who’s for the scampi and chips with bread and butter?’
‘We’re sharing, so just stick it in the middle please,’ Kingston said. ‘Is salt and vinegar OK or do you want any sauce?’
‘This is fine.’
Jane unwrapped her cutlery from the napkin and stuck her fork in a chip. He picked up a chip and popped it in his mouth, then had to spit it out onto his hand as it was so hot.
Jane laughed. ‘Serves you right,’ she said, handing him a fork.
He pushed it into a piece of scampi and held it up.
‘What do you call a crayfish with a messy room?’ he asked Jane.
‘I don’t know... What do you call a crayfish with a messy room?’
‘A slobster!’ he replied, and she couldn’t help laughing.
‘That’s a stupid joke.’
‘Yeah, but it made you laugh.’
Katie was rooted to the spot, transfixed by the sight of them laughing and joking together. Then suddenly she ran back to her car, slammed the door and started thumping the steering wheel with her fists.
‘You bastards!’ she shouted, before breaking down in tears.
‘Thank you for the scampi and chips, they were delicious.’
‘My pleasure. Have you got a boyfriend?’
‘Gosh, that’s a very direct question,’ she said, laughing.
‘Well?’
‘Not at present.’
‘You surprise me — it’s hard to imagine an attractive young woman like you not being in a relationship.’
‘I find they generally end badly — so I’m quite happy being single.’
‘I was thinking, maybe we could go out for a meal one evening?’ he asked, leaning across the table.
‘By “we,” do you mean just the two of us?’ she asked guardedly.