Faraday 01 The Gigabyte Detective by Michael Hillier Read Free Book Online Page A

walk.”
    “Nevertheless I think it needs some treatment.”
    “Yes,” he agreed. “I’ll have a bath back at my lodgings and rub some liniment on it, as you suggested.”
    “I’ll give you a lift home,” she decided. “When we get to the road, I’ll leave you by the wall and go to get my car.”
    “It’s all right. You really don’t need to worry. The buses go right past the end of the road.”
    But Susannah wouldn’t hear of it. She left him on a convenient seat and went to the car park. She was back within five minutes and helped him into the front passenger seat, fussing round him to make him feel comfortable. Strangely enough, she found she was enjoying herself. She even stopped at a chemist’s to get him some liniment on the way back to Paignton. His lodgings were in one of the small, cheap guest houses in a street which led back from the sea front into the town.
    He climbed out of the car and hobbled up the short path to the front door, effusive with thanks. Susannah shepherded him conscientiously.
    “I hope it soon recovers and doesn’t spoil your holiday,” she smiled.
    “I’m sure it will. Thank you very much.” He paused and looked at her. “Thank you, Susannah.”
    “I don’t even know your name,” she pointed out.
    “It’s Richard. Richard Harris.”
    “Well, Richard, goodbye. Have a nice holiday.”
    “I’ll try,” he said and winked at her. “Who knows - we may meet again.” Then he was gone through the front door.
    * * * * * * * *
    It was the first time Inspector Paulson had actually been in the big office on the top floor. Deputy Chief Constable “Lord Harry” Corbett was slumped in the plush leather executive swivel chair behind the huge desk. To the left of the desk a strikingly good-looking young woman was sitting. Her glossy dark brown hair was pulled back in a simple pony-tail. Her high cheek-bones were flushed with just a touch of pink. Her bright lips were curved into a hint of a smile. She was wearing a well-cut suit over a white linen shirt. One leg was crossed over the other, as she sipped her tea from a delicate china cup. To Paulson’s eyes she didn’t look at all the typical picture of a working police detective.
    Lord Harry rose ponderously to his feet as they entered. “Hello, Mark - come in. Nice to see you, Stafford.” He liked to perpetuate the myth that they were one big, happy family in the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. “Come and meet Charlotte Faraday - your new colleague.”
    She rose elegantly to her feet and Paulson noticed she was a good inch taller than he was. But she wasn’t quite as slim and vulnerable as she had at first seemed. He received the impression that nobody was going to find her easy to push around.
    “My new colleague, sir?” asked Paulson, “or is this my new boss?”
    The sharp intake of breath from Lasham told him that comment hadn’t done his promotion prospects any good. He noticed a glint had appeared in Faraday’s eye. But Stafford felt he had to know exactly what their relative positions were going to be.
    “Well, of course Chief Inspector Faraday outranks you.” The DCC smiled mirthlessly. “But she’s only here on a temporary three months’ posting to deal with the Cynthia Adams case. She’s going to use her special computer skills to see if she can come up with something that we’ve missed. She will of course be in charge of that one.” Corbett knew how to lay down the law. “And you, Paulson, will give her every assistance that she needs in her investigations. That case is of absolute priority to the whole division.” His smile softened a little. “But elsewhere nothing will change. You’ll continue to be in charge of your own patch.”
    Paulson nodded, as was expected of him. But he wasn’t happy with the arrangement. He was clear-headed enough to know that this was a recipe for personal disaster. Faraday would have the right to order him around as she wished, to take his staff away from any