Death of an Innocent by Sally Spencer Read Free Book Online Page B

but they didn’t look very promising, either. Of course, we’ll do follow-up investigations on all of them, but I’m not really expecting it to lead anywhere.’
    â€˜Aren’t there
any
other leads?’
    Paniatowski shook her head. ‘Nobody’s been reported missing, and nobody in the immediate neighbourhood – if that’s what you want to call a big stretch of open moors – saw anything that could be of the slightest use to us.’ She looked deep into Woodend’s eyes. ‘Let’s forget the investigation for a minute, shall we? How are
you
feeling, sir?’
    â€˜How do you think I’m feelin’? How would you feel if you’d been suspended on some trumped-up excuse?’
    â€˜I’d feel like hell,’ Paniatowski admitted.
    â€˜What I don’t understand –
really
don’t understand – is
why
I’ve been fitted up.’
    â€˜Mr Ainsworth’s not exactly the biggest fan you’ve got in Whitebridge, you know, sir.’
    â€˜Mr Ainsworth hates my guts with a passion – he has done from the very first moment I walked into the station. But even if he wanted to shaft me good and proper, why do it now?’
    â€˜Maybe he just saw his opportunity and⎯’
    â€˜Look, this murder case is the most important one to break in Whitebridge since the war. Maybe even before that. The pressure will be on the force for a quick result, an’ I’m the best person to deliver that result, aren’t I?’
    â€˜Undoubtedly.’
    â€˜An’ Ainsworth knows that as well as you do. Besides, if the case
isn’t
solved, the press will be lookin’ for somebody to crucify. Up until a couple of hours ago, that person was me. But by suspendin’ me, Ainsworth’s put himself straight into the hot seat. An’ that’s not like him at all. So I say again, Monika, why try to shaft me
now
?’
    â€˜Could it be that he thinks that if you
did
solve the case, your position would be unassailable?’ Paniatowski wondered.
    â€˜Now there’s a possibility I hadn’t considered,’ Woodend conceded. He stubbed his cigarette out forcefully in the ashtray. ‘But I’m not the main issue here, anyway. What’s really got me worried is that whoever murdered that poor bloody kiddie might just get away with it.’
    Paniatowski took a sip of her vodka. ‘There’s nothing
you
can do about that now,’ she said, with a warning edge to her voice.
    â€˜Isn’t there?’
    Paniatowski sighed heavily. ‘I really hope you’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking.’
    â€˜On the one hand you’ve got you an’ me – a good team. An’ on the other hand, you’ve got DI Harris – an idiot. Who do you think is more likely to solve the case?’ Woodend asked – trying not to sound desperate, and knowing he wasn’t
quite
making it. ‘We can crack this together, Monika.’
    â€˜Or we could give Mr Ainsworth a
real
reason to bury you,’ Paniatowski pointed out. ‘And me along with you.’
    â€˜Nobody need ever know.’
    â€˜They’ll find out. They always do.’
    â€˜You’re probably right, lass,’ Woodend agreed. ‘No, I’m
sure
you’re right. An’ you’ve worked far too hard – put too much of yourself into the job – to be dragged down with me.’ He rose heavily to his feet. ‘Best of luck with the case, lass. I’ll see you around.’
    He walked over to the door. The argumentative courting couple had left. The boy who’d been gambling fruitlessly on the one-armed bandit had gone, too. And a few new customers – eager to get a last drink before closing time was called – had taken their place. That was how things went.
    Times changed. Situations changed. The formidable sergeant who he’d lived in terror of when he’d first