The Tunnel Rats by Stephen Leather Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stephen Leather
tapped his fingertips on the desktop like a concert pianist THE TUNNEL RATS 37 warming up. 'I've been considering letting the Met continue with the case,' he mused.
Wright looked across at his partner for support. 'We've already started the preliminary work.'
'Nevertheless, the Met is geared up for murder investigations, and with the best will in the world--'
'We cracked the Everton case last spring.'
'The guy was caught with the knife in his hand,' said Newton patiently.
'It was still murder.'
'Manslaughter,' corrected the superintendent.
'Murder, manslaughter, what's the difference? This is a BTP case, sir,' said Wright. We can handle it.'
'Whatever happens, it's going to be a joint investigation,' said Newton.
'I understand that, sir, but it should be a BTP case first and foremost, with you as governor.' 'Nice of you to be so keen to increase my workload, Nick.' Newton kept his eyes on Wright as he gathered up the photographs. He stacked them neatly, then handed the pile to Wright. 'Okay. Have it your way. Tell Ronnie I want to see him,' Newton said eventually. 'He'll be liaison officer. Use the conference room in the basement as the incident room. I'll draw up a rota of officers to be assigned to the case. I'll arrange for temporary transfers and authorise the necessary overtime.' He took a deep breath as if reconsidering his decision. 'Ronnie can talk to the Met and have their officers sent over here, and I'll have half a dozen uniforms assigned. Oh, and the press have been on asking for details. I've arranged a press conference for four o'clock. The two of you can handle it. Ronnie's going to be too busy getting the incident room sorted out. Just give them the basics, and put out an appeal for witnesses. Don't mention the playing card. Keep that in reserve.'
'Our ace in the hole?' said Reid, deadpan.
Newton looked at him icily. 'And no mention of a serial killer.'
Reid and Wright stood up. 'Thank you, sir,' said Wright.
Newton acknowledged Wright's gratitude with a slight nod.
'It's not open ended, Nick. If it looks like you're not making any progress, the case goes to the Met.'
'TTey, Gerry, take a look at this!' Clive Edmunds gestured X Awith a lit cigarette at the wall-mounted television above the office coffee machine. 'Those railway wankers are on Sky news.'
Gerry Hunter stopped pecking at his computer keyboard and looked up. 'Turn the sound up, will you?' he asked.
Edmunds looked around for theVemote control and increased the volume. Tommy Reid was reading a prepared statement while Nick Wright sat next to him, toying with a ballpoint pen. Behind them was a blown-up map of the area where the body had been found. Hunter couldn't help smiling at Reid's appearance: the man's hair was damp as if he'd splashed water on it in an attempt to make it lie flat. Stray strands of hair were already coming adrift at the sides. He'd fastened the top button of his shirt but his collar was a size too small and clearly pinching his neck. Reid finished reading the statement and asked the assembled reporters if they had any questions.
'Do you have any motive for the killing?' asked a redhead holding a small tape recorder.
'Not as yet,' said Reid.
'And no suspect?'
Reid's jaw tightened. 'We're appealing for anyone who was in the vicinity of the tunnel to come forward,' he said. 'Even if they don't think they saw anything of significance, we'd still like to talk to them.'
'In fact, you don't even know who the victim is, do you?' pressed the redhead. Reid pretended not to hear her.
A middle-aged man in a crumpled blue suit raised an arm. Hunter recognised him as a crime reporter on one of the tabloids. 'When are you going to call in the Met?' he said.
Edmunds nudged Hunter in the ribs. 'The guys are running a sweepstake on that very question,' he chuckled.
'This is a British Transport Police investigation,' said Wright.
'We will be liaising with the Metropolitan Police,' said Reid. 'Officers from the Met will be
Wright looked across at his partner for support. 'We've already started the preliminary work.'
'Nevertheless, the Met is geared up for murder investigations, and with the best will in the world--'
'We cracked the Everton case last spring.'
'The guy was caught with the knife in his hand,' said Newton patiently.
'It was still murder.'
'Manslaughter,' corrected the superintendent.
'Murder, manslaughter, what's the difference? This is a BTP case, sir,' said Wright. We can handle it.'
'Whatever happens, it's going to be a joint investigation,' said Newton.
'I understand that, sir, but it should be a BTP case first and foremost, with you as governor.' 'Nice of you to be so keen to increase my workload, Nick.' Newton kept his eyes on Wright as he gathered up the photographs. He stacked them neatly, then handed the pile to Wright. 'Okay. Have it your way. Tell Ronnie I want to see him,' Newton said eventually. 'He'll be liaison officer. Use the conference room in the basement as the incident room. I'll draw up a rota of officers to be assigned to the case. I'll arrange for temporary transfers and authorise the necessary overtime.' He took a deep breath as if reconsidering his decision. 'Ronnie can talk to the Met and have their officers sent over here, and I'll have half a dozen uniforms assigned. Oh, and the press have been on asking for details. I've arranged a press conference for four o'clock. The two of you can handle it. Ronnie's going to be too busy getting the incident room sorted out. Just give them the basics, and put out an appeal for witnesses. Don't mention the playing card. Keep that in reserve.'
'Our ace in the hole?' said Reid, deadpan.
Newton looked at him icily. 'And no mention of a serial killer.'
Reid and Wright stood up. 'Thank you, sir,' said Wright.
Newton acknowledged Wright's gratitude with a slight nod.
'It's not open ended, Nick. If it looks like you're not making any progress, the case goes to the Met.'
'TTey, Gerry, take a look at this!' Clive Edmunds gestured X Awith a lit cigarette at the wall-mounted television above the office coffee machine. 'Those railway wankers are on Sky news.'
Gerry Hunter stopped pecking at his computer keyboard and looked up. 'Turn the sound up, will you?' he asked.
Edmunds looked around for theVemote control and increased the volume. Tommy Reid was reading a prepared statement while Nick Wright sat next to him, toying with a ballpoint pen. Behind them was a blown-up map of the area where the body had been found. Hunter couldn't help smiling at Reid's appearance: the man's hair was damp as if he'd splashed water on it in an attempt to make it lie flat. Stray strands of hair were already coming adrift at the sides. He'd fastened the top button of his shirt but his collar was a size too small and clearly pinching his neck. Reid finished reading the statement and asked the assembled reporters if they had any questions.
'Do you have any motive for the killing?' asked a redhead holding a small tape recorder.
'Not as yet,' said Reid.
'And no suspect?'
Reid's jaw tightened. 'We're appealing for anyone who was in the vicinity of the tunnel to come forward,' he said. 'Even if they don't think they saw anything of significance, we'd still like to talk to them.'
'In fact, you don't even know who the victim is, do you?' pressed the redhead. Reid pretended not to hear her.
A middle-aged man in a crumpled blue suit raised an arm. Hunter recognised him as a crime reporter on one of the tabloids. 'When are you going to call in the Met?' he said.
Edmunds nudged Hunter in the ribs. 'The guys are running a sweepstake on that very question,' he chuckled.
'This is a British Transport Police investigation,' said Wright.
'We will be liaising with the Metropolitan Police,' said Reid. 'Officers from the Met will be