Death of an Innocent by Sally Spencer Read Free Book Online

wholeheartedly.’
    That came as no surprise at all, Woodend told himself, not when you knew the Chief Constable as well as he did.
    â€˜Excuse me, sir, but if I’m to get a bollockin’ for this, wouldn’t it be more appropriate comin’ from my immediate superior, DCS Whittle?’ he asked.
    â€˜If a reprimand were
all
you were getting, it would indeed be coming from DCS Whittle. But this particular incident is serious enough to have gone beyond a simple reprimand, and I have to inform you, here and now, that you are being suspended on full pay, pending a full investigation into your conduct.’
    â€˜What!’ Woodend said.
    â€˜I think you heard me the first time.’
    This couldn’t be happening, Woodend told himself. At the start of an important murder hunt, it simply
couldn’t
be happening!
    â€˜Even if I have made an error of judgement, it doesn’t merit a suspension,’ he said.
    â€˜That is my decision to make, not yours.’
    â€˜Couldn’t you defer the suspension until the case is closed?’
    â€˜No, I couldn’t. And I must warn you that you’re bordering on insubordination again.’
    Woodend took a deep breath. His own situation could be dealt with later – what mattered at the moment was that there was a proper investigation of the case of the poor bloody girl who’d been murdered out at Dugdale’s Farm.
    â€˜Will Mr Whittle be bringin’ someone in from outside the area to take over from me, sir?’ he asked, knowing full well that the decision would not rest with Whittle himself, but the man who pulled Whittle’s strings and was sitting opposite him now. ‘Because if we are gettin’ outside help, could you suggest to him that he tries to get⎯?’
    â€˜He won’t be bringing anyone in from outside.’
    â€˜Then he’s goin’ to be handlin’ it himself?’
    â€˜No, although both DCS Whittle and I will, of course, take a close personal interest in the case.’
    â€˜So who’s⎯?’
    â€˜DI Harris will be taking over the investigation.’
    DI Harris! Sweet Jesus!
    â€˜With respect, sir, DI Harris couldn’t find his own arsehole if he used both hands,’ Woodend said.
    Ainsworth frowned his heavy disapproval. ‘No doubt using that kind of language makes you feel like you’re still one of the boys, but while the members of your team may have to tolerate your coarseness, I certainly do not, and will not,’ he said.
    â€˜If you’re goin’ to take me off the case, at least make sure I’m replaced by somebody who can⎯’
    â€˜I have always found your arrogance one of the least attractive of your many unattractive characteristics,’ Ainsworth said. ‘We work as a team here in Whitebridge, and DI Harris is an effective and efficient part of that team. You will not question my judgement – DCS Whittle’s judgement, I should say – in assigning the case to Harris. Is that clearly understood?’
    â€˜Yes, sir.’
    Ainsworth held out his hand. ‘You will give me your warrant card now, and then I will arrange for you to be accompanied to your office, from where you will be allowed to remove any articles of a purely personal nature.’
    â€˜I’d like to ask you to reconsider your decision,’ Woodend said. ‘If not for my benefit, then at least for the good of the force.’
    The fingers of Ainsworth’s outstretched waiting hand twitched impatiently. ‘I
am
thinking of the good of the force,’ he said. ‘That’s why I want you out of the building as soon as possible.’

Five
    T he White Swan – known locally as the Dirty Duck – was situated on the corner of Prince Albert Street and the Boulevard. It had once been a lively pub, then some bright young spark at the brewery had come up with the idea of tearing out its organically developed heart