Down Among the Dead Men by Peter Lovesey Read Free Book Online Page B

jewellery. The gang used ladders and vans and they picked locks and neutralised security systems. Nothing remarkable in that. But generally even the top professionals give themselves away when they cash in. The marketing of stolen goods is messy and leaves trails.
    â€œAre you personally involved in the investigation?”
    â€œWhen you say ‘personally’ . . .”
    â€œHands on.”
    Careful here, he thought. “I’m overseeing it, if that’s what you mean.”
    â€œInterviewing the people whose property was stolen?”
    Hey-ho, had one of Bath’s grandees complained that he hadn’t doffed his hat? “I’ve done a bit of that. They’re VIPs, some of them, as you know. Can’t send young constables to speak to people like that.”
    â€œUnderstood. But you do have senior detectives like Keith Halliwell and John Leaman.”
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    â€œI sometimes think, Peter, that you could delegate more.”
    He said nothing. The use of his first name by Georgina was a cannon shot across the bows. The mention of delegating was a broadside.
    â€œHalliwell and Leaman are old hands,” she went on, “and as back-up they have an able detective sergeant in Ingeborg Smith.”
    â€œAgreed.”
    â€œBetween them, they could round up this gang in the next week or so.”
    â€œI wouldn’t count on it.”
    â€œYou must have plenty of clues.”
    â€œWe don’t, ma’am. This lot are good at what they do.”
    â€œAnd so are we. Every contact leaves its traces.”
    â€œBut when the only traces are from disposable overshoes all we know is that they’re experienced criminals. Or misguided health professionals.”
    She didn’t smile. “Tyre tracks?”
    â€œNothing to speak of. Gravel surfaces, mostly.”
    â€œAnd no CCTV?”
    â€œThey’re wise to that.”
    â€œI still think Halliwell and Leaman are capable of dealing with this.”
    â€œI didn’t say they aren’t. We’ll get there.”
    â€œWithout you breathing down their necks, I mean.”
    He didn’t like the way this was heading. “With respect, I know how to get the best out of my team, ma’am.”
    Georgina took a breath that tested the silver buttons on her tunic. “I’m not criticising. My job—one of my jobs—is to manage, make the best use of resources. I don’t think you’re over-stretched in CID.”
    â€œHold on,” Diamond said. “I could go back to the office now and find I’m facing a murder. We have to be on our toes.”
    Her eyes rolled upwards. Maybe he’d used the primed-and-ready-to-go argument once too often.
    She glanced behind her as if someone might be at the window. On the top floor ? “What I’m about to tell you must not go beyond these four walls. I’ve been sounded out by a high source, the highest, in fact.”
    Mental picture of Georgina dressed like Moses, with a tablet of stone under each arm.
    â€œHeadquarters?”
    â€œHigher than that.”
    â€œFederation?”
    She shook her head. She was milking this. She wanted to impress him. He played along, curious and wary. How could it impinge on him if Georgina had been earmarked for promotion?
    â€œACPO?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThe Home Office?”
    A twitch of the lips put an end to the game.
    He waited for more.
    â€œIt’s extremely sensitive.” Her face was screwed up now as if it was painful to go on. She lowered her voice. “A certain police authority—not ours—has come under scrutiny. Questions are being asked about their handling of an investigation that appears to have been flawed. As you know, each authority has its own professional standards department. Above that is the Independent Police Complaints Commission with their own investigators. But in exceptional cases the chief constable may request assistance