‘What’s that bastard doing here?’
Until then I’d only been worried about the grieving family encountering the contractor. It hadn’t occurred to me that Jessop would know Oduya. But the activist had been leading the campaign to save St Jude’s, had been responsible for its stay of execution over the bats. And, after producing Christine Gorski’s family in front of the press, his face had been all over the TV and news sites for the past twenty-four hours.
Jessop would definitely recognize the man responsible for the delays.
I put a restraining hand on his shoulder. ‘You should get back in the car…’
‘That fucker,’ he breathed, glaring at Oduya.
I tried to block his path as he started towards them, but he pushed past me. His earlier weakness had been forgotten, replaced by adrenaline and anger. Knowing we were making exactly the sort of scene I’d wanted to avoid, I made one last attempt to stop him.
‘Don’t, that’s her family…’ I began, but he wasn’t listening. Jessop was a big man, accustomed to using his bulk, and he shrugged me off as he strode out from behind his car.
‘You!’
He stabbed a finger at Oduya. The group were already looking over, drawn by the disturbance. I saw Ward’s eyes widen, while a look of cold fury compressed Ainsley’s features. The others stared at us, confused. Including Oduya. Jessop might have good reason to know him, but the recognition was one-sided: the activist had probably never set eyes on the demolition contractor before.
‘This is your fault!’ Jessop spat, still closing the distance between them. ‘Are you fucking happy now? Eh?’
Oduya looked bewildered. ‘I’m sorry, do I know you…?’
‘All right, that’s enough.’
Ainsley came towards Jessop, athletic and impressive in his police uniform and peaked cap. The contractor ignored him.
‘Do you know what you’ve fucking done?’ he snarled at Oduya. ‘All the grief you’ve caused? Who gives a fuck about a few bats or some junkie whore who—’
‘I said that’s enough!’ Ainsley stepped in front of him, taking hold of his arm. ‘DCI Ward, I want this man—’
I don’t think Jessop intended to hit him, but the big contractor was past caring. He jerked free from Ainsley’s grip, his arm flying up and striking the uniformed commander in the face. Ainsley’s head snapped back, his cap falling off as he stumbled backwards. I could hear footsteps as police belatedly raced towards us. I ran to restrain Jessop, seeing Ward doing the same as Christine Gorski’s family watched in shock.
But Oduya was closest of all of us. There was a look of concentration on his face as he stepped out to meet Jessop. As the bigger man lunged, the activist sidestepped and gripped his outstretched arm. Letting the bigger man’s momentum carry him past, he swept the arm up and behind Jessop’s back, locking it rigid. With an oath, the contractor stumbled, dropping to one knee with his arm extended painfully backwards.
‘You need to calm down,’ Oduya told him.
‘Bastard! Get off!’ Jessop gasped, trying to wrench free. In response Oduya twisted his arm higher.
‘Don’t make me hurt you.’
Ainsley had recovered from the glancing blow, but the police commander had lost his cap and his nose was bleeding. His face was tight with anger as he went to them. ‘All right, we’ve got him.’
Other officers were rushing over as well. Oduya stepped back as Jessop was swamped by uniforms. He gave me a nod, not even breathing heavily.
‘Hello, Dr Hunter.’
I returned the nod, still shaken. Whelan ran up, out of breath, as the bedraggled contractor was hauled to his feet. ‘What the hell…?’
‘Later,’ Ward told him. She gave me a furious look before turning away. ‘Mr and Mrs Gorski, I am so sorry…’
She was interrupted by a splashing noise. Standing in the background, forgotten by everyone, Christine Gorski’s teenage brother bent double as he vomited noisily on to the broken tarmac. His face was chalk white as he slowly straightened. For a second he seemed on the point of saying something.
Then his legs folded from under him and he collapsed.
Chapter 16
The lights came on automatically when I let myself into the apartment, lamps and uplighters steadily brightening to a warm glow. I supposed the mood lighting was designed to ease away the stresses and strains of the day, a touch of luxury to welcome you home. I just found it annoying and wished there was a switch I could flick on.
Dumping my aluminium flight case in the hallway by the front door, I took off my coat and went into the kitchen. Right then I didn’t want to think very far past food and a drink.
Definitely a drink.
I opened the fridge door to see what there was to eat. After staring at the sparse shelves without any inspiration, I offered up a silent apology to Anja, took out eggs and cheese and set about making myself an omelette.
I might not have mastered the apartment’s NASA-standard coffee machine but I’d learned how to operate the sound system. Setting it to play randomly, I poured myself a beer and took my plate over to the dining-room table, trying not to think about the empty seat opposite me. The mournful tones of jazz piano swelled from the speakers as I sat down. It wouldn’t have been my first choice but it filled the silence. Good enough.
Taking a drink of beer, I tried to unwind.
It had been pandemonium after Christine Gorski’s brother had collapsed.
There had been calls for medics and an ambulance, but I could see he was already starting to revive. It looked like he’d only fainted, probably just reaction or shock.
There was a lot of it going round.
Jessop had been quickly hustled away, the big contractor beginning to look more than a little shell-shocked again himself. Once she was satisfied that Luke Gorski was OK and being attended to, Ward had come over to me. Grabbing hold of my arm, she’d led me away.
‘What the fuck was all that about?’ she’d hissed.
I’d told her as much as I knew. She’d listened in silence, the skin around her nose white. When I’d finished she exhaled angrily.
‘Couldn’t you, I don’t know, have kept him away or something?’
‘I tried. You saw what happened.’
She’d screwed her eyes shut and massaged the bridge of her nose. ‘Jesus, what a fuck-up.’
‘So where does this leave the search?’
Ward had looked back towards St Jude’s and shaken her head. ‘I don’t know yet. I need to talk to Whelan and the PolSA, find what the situation is with the asbestos. We’ll have to take it from there.’
‘And Jessop?’
‘God knows. By rights we could charge him with assaulting a police officer, but that’s down to Ainsley. Jesus, Oduya’s going to have a field day with this.’
‘Will I?’
The mellow voice had come from behind us. Great timing, I’d thought, turning round to face the activist. Neither Ward nor I had noticed him coming over.
Ward had made an attempt to rally. ‘Mr Oduya, on behalf of the inquiry, I can only apologize…’
He’d waved her off. ‘Forget it. I know a bully when I see one. Whatever disagreements we might have over St Jude’s, I’m not going to hold you responsible for the actions of a man like that. I’m only sorry Tomas and Sandra had to hear what he said. And Luke, too, of course.’
‘Keith Jessop will be dealt with, and if you decided to press charges yourself then you’ll obviously have our full support.’
‘Thanks, but I’m not going to waste time on the Jessops of this world. Life’s too short.’ His eyes had crinkled in a wry smile. ‘Besides, I’ll be dining out on this for years. Getting assaulted while surrounded by police officers? I couldn’t make that up.’