The Whitby Murders (A Yorkshire Murder Mystery) J. Ellis (distant reading TXT) 📖

what had happened to the young people in the escape room, she felt it was time as a parent to count her blessings and to acknowledge that things could be much worse.

On Monday morning things were back to normal at Harrogate HQ. Oldroyd’s first task was to speak to Tom Walker. He sat in Walker’s spartan office opposite his boss who was pleased to see him back. He regarded Oldroyd as a kindred spirit in the fight against managerialism and the business culture. He’d been reading a report on his monitor and he took off his reading glasses.

‘Welcome back, Jim. I’ve been following everything and you’ve had a right do over there, haven’t you?’

‘Aye, Tom, it’s took me to t’door and back as my granddad used to say.’

‘Right,’ said Walker, laughing, but then he went more serious. ‘I don’t suppose I should be laughing when your lass was in such peril.’

‘Don’t worry, Tom. She’s safe and that’s all that counts.’

‘So the murderer killed his own friends in order to get possession of a valuable painting?’

‘He did. He wanted the money so that he could pursue his own artwork without having to earn a living; thought he was some kind of genius.’

Walker grunted and shook his head. ‘Do you know I’ve been in this job for over forty years and you’d think I’d have seen everything, but the depravity of some people still shocks me. Anyway, Stephanie Johnson was outstanding, I hear.’

‘She was. She saved my daughter’s life. It’s as simple as that.’

‘Well, she’s always been a great asset to the force. I’ve thought so ever since she joined us as a young lass. With her and Carter, you’ve got a great team.’

‘That’s what I’ve been telling everyone.’

Walker frowned ominously as he glanced with contempt at his computer screen. Oldroyd tensed himself for what was about to come.

‘This is what that fool Watkins can never grasp. It’s the quality of the people in policing that matters not his bloody bureaucratic systems and stupid targets. I’ve just been reading his latest missive.’ He jabbed at his screen. ‘“Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Policing?” The man’s off his bloody trolley! Does he think robots will be going around arresting people? Never mind artificial intelligence, I’d like to see some real intelligence for once. He thinks he’s some kind of super brain sitting in his office looking into the future. The truth is, he hasn’t got two brains cells to rub together. I mean . . .’

And off he went. Normally Oldroyd would have looked for an excuse to leave, but the old boy had been so generous and understanding towards to him recently that he indulged him once again.

When he was eventually released from Walker’s rant, Oldroyd went straight back down to his office. The first person he saw was Andy.

‘Welcome back,’ he said. ‘And well done.’

‘Thanks, sir, but I don’t think I did much to be honest.’

‘Yes, you did. Never despise the more menial tasks. Policing can’t be exciting all the time and every scrap of effort contributes to the solving of the case. All those people needed to be followed up; that process of elimination is important.’

‘If you say so, sir,’ replied Andy, smiling.

‘Are we jealous of our partner, I wonder?’ teased Oldroyd.

‘Oh no, sir, don’t worry we’ve talked about it. She was brilliant.’

‘Where is she, by the way?’

‘Round there at her desk.’

‘Okay. I must have a word.’

Oldroyd found Steph at her computer in the work area. ‘Steph, come in a minute, will you?’

She came in and they sat opposite each other. Oldroyd smiled at her and shook his head. She smiled back.

For a few moments he seemed at a loss for words.

‘What can I say except “Thank you”? It doesn’t seem anything like enough.’

‘I’m pleased it all worked out well, sir, and that I played a part in it.’

‘“Played a part”? It was a bit more than that, I think. You saved my daughter’s life.’ His voice broke and he looked away. Steph could see tears forming in his eyes.

‘I was doing my job, sir, in the way you’ve taught me over the years. So if I got it right, you should take some of the credit.’

Oldroyd laughed as he wiped his eyes with a tissue. ‘Well, that’s super-modest, I must say. I’m so proud of you. You took a risk in going it alone, but it was the right decision.’

‘You and Inspector Granger were too far away to be able to do anything and if I’d been wrong it would have caused you so much distress for nothing.’

‘Absolutely. What put you on to what was happening?’

‘Louise asked to borrow the keys to the flat, but she was very cagey about why she wanted to get in there. I just didn’t like it, so I contacted Leeds police and arranged for surveillance of the flat. I had a second set of keys cut so we were able to get inside. At that point we were just going to see what happened. It could have been quite innocent. She may have just come to collect her books. But then you rang and told me about Morton coming to Leeds. We moved quickly into place and, sure enough, Louise arrived with Morton. They didn’t know we were there, of course. I had to decide whether to go straight in and arrest him or not. I wasn’t sure what weapons he had, so I decided it was safer to let them come into the flat. I was watching them from the door to the kitchen and when he got the cord round her neck, I knew you were right: he was the murderer and then we had to move and fast.’

There was a pause as they both contemplated that horrible moment again.

‘You worked it out and followed it through extremely well,’ said Oldroyd. ‘You’ll be pleased to know that Inspector Granger has finished everything off.’ He explained how the details of the investigation had been completed.

‘How is Louise,