Hail and Farewell (The Lakeland Murders) by J. J. Salkeld Read Free Book Online Page A

do?’
    ‘It has been known.’
    ‘And what about you, Sergeant Hodgson?’
    ‘Aye. It has been known.’
    ‘So why, this year, did you decide to play?’
    ‘Like it says in our statements’ said Smith, ‘we had information to the effect that the Moffett and the Hayton crews were going to go at it, in or around the game. And, sure enough, a group of Hayton’s lads did join the game shortly before the death.’
    ‘And your plan was to do what, exactly?’
    ‘How do you mean?’
    ‘What would you have done if the two gangs had started fighting?’
    ‘Called in back-up.’
    ‘But you could have done that if you’d just stood among the spectators, couldn’t you?’
    ‘Not really, love. Have you ever seen the game? Live, I mean.’
    ‘No. I’ve just watched what footage I could find online. But actually Ian, DS Mann here, he has played.’
    ‘Aye, I’ll bet he has’ said Smith. ‘Made for the job, your mate was. Anyway, the point is that it’s impossible to see what’s going on from the outside. Your mate will tell you that. So that’s why we were playing on Friday.’
    ‘I see. And how about the source of this information? How did you know about this confrontation?’
    ‘They call them CIs for a reason, DS Francis. It’s taken me twenty years to build up my network of informants, and I’d not give you any names if you were Lord God almighty.’
     
    Jane nodded. It was going much as she’d expected.
    ‘And is there anything that you’d like to add to the intelligence reports on these two criminal gangs?’
    ‘No. I think it’s all there.’
    ‘And how about you, DS Hodgson. Anything you’d like to add?’
    ‘No. I think it’s all there.’ He smirked at Jane, until he noticed the expression on Mann’s face. The smile faded fast.
    ‘One other thing’ said Jane, ‘and we’ll let you get on with your work.’
    ‘Aye, what’s that?’
    ‘I wanted to ask about your DCs. You’ve assigned Keith Iredale to us. Is that right?’
    ‘Aye. One of our other DCs is off on maternity leave, and the other one is involved in two ongoing investigations.’
    ‘So what can you tell us about DC Iredale?’
    ‘Paula? Nice enough lad, really. His dad was in the job for a lot of years. He’s a bit of a mountain man is Keith. A fitness freak, all that. He’s young, obviously, but he’s keen enough.’
    Jane looked pleased with something about Smith’s reply, but he couldn’t quite see what it was.
     
    Jane made Ian Mann a brew, and they settled into their small, shared office. Mann’s shoulders half filled it on their own.
    ‘So what did you make of those two, Ian?’
    ‘The DI’s pissed off, but why wouldn’t he be? Put yourself in his position. He’s gone from being cock of the bloody walk to being under a cloud, and all in about five minutes flat.’
    ‘Do you think he’ll be obstructive?’
    ‘No, he’s not daft. But as to whether he’ll go out of his way to be helpful, well that’s another matter.’
    ‘Is he worth a bit of a charm offensive?’
    Mann laughed. ‘And that would be my charm, I take it? I can’t see you chumming up to either of those two.’
    ‘Yes, Ian. They’re bound to be impressed by all your war stories. And you could play the all-blokes-together card, see how that goes.’
    ‘Women are taking over the world, and what is it all coming to?’
    ‘Yes. Something like that.’
    ‘But it would sound so wrong, Jane, coming from a confirmed feminist like me.’
    This time Jane laughed. ‘And how about young Iredale? You think we can safely use him as our runner?’
    ‘Aye, I do. I’m sure Smith has leant on the lad, but unless he’s a bloody good actor, which I doubt, I think we can assume that Iredale is still his own man. He’s only been in CID for five minutes, for a start. He won’t have picked up too many bad habits.’
    ‘Pretty much what I was thinking too. All right, Ian. So how does this sound as a plan? I help young DC Iredale with all these wits,