The Whole Truth Hunter, Cara (motivational novels for students TXT) đ
Book online «The Whole Truth Hunter, Cara (motivational novels for students TXT) đ». Author Hunter, Cara
What if they know what she did?
What then?
* * *
Quinnâs first in the office on Tuesday. Itâs almost like old times, back when he was the real DS and not just keeping Gisâs seat warm: getting set up for the morning meeting, picking up CID emails. He does another quick check (find a spare marker pen, turn the fan on â much good itâll do), then takes a seat at the front and opens up his tablet. Next arrival is Baxter. Sweating already, and grumbling to himself about parking. He looks around and frowns.
âEv in yet?â
Quinn shakes his head. âHavenât seen her. I think Asanteâs about somewhere. Try the coffee machine.â
âItâs too bloody hot for coffee,â mutters Baxter, though that doesnât stop him heading off in the same direction. By the time he gets back, Evâs at her desk, pulling out her notebook. Baxter goes straight over to her.
âMorning,â she says brightly, then frowns slightly. âYou OK?â
Baxter moves a bit closer and seems about to reply but then something changes his mind and he turns away.
Quinn turns to look: that âsomethingâ was Somer, coming in from the corridor. Quinnâs eyes narrow. He picked up a bit of an undercurrent on that score yesterday, but no one actually said anything. And Somer does look more preoccupied than usual, no question. Sheâs keeping her head down, staring at her paperwork, avoiding conversation, which isnât like her. He sees Ev go over and say a word or two in a low voice but she gets nothing but a brief shake of the head by way of reply.
They have to wait another quarter of an hour for Fawley, which isnât like him either, and by the time he turns up the silence in the room has started to become uncomfortable. But either he doesnât notice or simply isnât interested in pleasantries this morning. He just pulls out a chair and nods at Quinn.
âRight,â says Quinn, snapping into DS mode. âWeâve had Fisherâs blood test and tox screen back, and the bloods confirm sheâd been drinking ââ
Fawleyâs staring at his phone. âWhich is no great revelation, seeing as she told us that herself.â
Quinn ploughs on. âHer blood alcohol was easily over the drink-drive limit, but not high enough to cause a blackout on its own. However, according to the tox screen sheâs taking medication for anxiety.â He looks down at his tablet. âSomething called Fluoxetine. Basically the same as Prozac. Sheâs on quite a low dose, but apparently it can cause drowsiness if you drink when youâre on it.â
A glance up now. âBut not actual blackouts?â
Quinn shakes his head. âNot usually, but no doctorâs going to get on the stand and rule it out one hundred per cent. At least according to Challow.â
âWhat about the DNA?â
Quinn swipes his screen. âAh, now thatâs where it gets interesting. Fisherâs DNA was definitely present on Morganâs arms and hands. Fisherâs lawyer will obviously claim that could have got there just from casual social contact or being in the house, but sheâs going to find it a hell of a lot harder to explain why it was also on Morganâs face and all over his privates.â He looks around with a smirk. âHe didnât get that from passing her a glass of chardonnay, now did he?â
Baxter grins, but Fawley is frowning. âDefine âprivatesâ.â
Quinn flushes a little. âSorry â basically down towards his groin. Definitely under where his shorts would have been so thereâs no way ââ
âBut not on his penis?â
Quinn shakes his head. âNo. Just in that general area.â
âAnd the scratches?â
âYup,â says Quinn. âThey were down to her too.â
Ev nods. âAll of which tallies exactly with what he told us.â
Fawley glances at her. âI think we all know where you stand.â
Evâs eyes widen. âI didnât mean ââ
Fawley turns to Quinn. âAnd Fisher?â
He shakes his head. âNothing on her body or under her fingernails, but given sheâd showered weâd pretty much discounted that already.â He stops, makes a face. âLook, I know the DNA backs up Morganâs version of events as far as it goes, but itâs also consistent with a bit of consensual fumble that just petered out. He says he told her to stop, but weâre never going to prove that. The only people whoâll ever know the truth are the two of them.â
âMake that the one of them,â says Baxter, folding his arms. âFisher doesnât remember either way. Allegedly.â
Fawley puts down his mobile, takes a breath. âOK. Just because we donât have sufficient evidence to run with this wonât stop people expecting us to. Or assuming that if we donât, it must be down to either bias, incompetence or undue influence.â He stands up now, tucks his phone into his jacket. âIâve arranged to see the CPS specialist rape prosecutor this afternoon. If they say itâs worth pursuing, weâll keep pushing; if they donât, we can drop it with a clear conscience and reasonable air cover.â
âIf you drop this case itâll be because I say so. And not before.â
They swing round. Itâs Superintendent Harrison, in the doorway.
âAnd in the meantime, perhaps someone could explain to me how come itâs suddenly all over the bloody internet?â Fury is pulsating off him like microwaves.
Silence.
You can almost hear people holding their breath, but Fawley stares him out. âI wasnât aware that it was ââ
âSharpen up, Inspector,â says Harrison, striding across the room and thrusting a sheet of paper in his face. âLook at this stuff â Twitter, Facebook â the press office are imploding â Iâve had Fisherâs lawyer on the phone, the ACC wants someoneâs head on a spike ââ
And itâs not going to be Harrisonâs. That much is clear.
âI can assure you, sir,â Fawley begins, âthat no one on my team has been speaking to the press.â
Because it just isnât worth it. Because this is exactly the sort of shit that was bound to follow, and they all know it.
But Harrison isnât listening. âDonât assure
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