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involved in
over 200 murder investigations - and got a result on all but one.
He’d also been involved in career manipulation and politics at the
highest level of the service, and could see right through the
chief’s announcement. It was obvious what he was thinking. Dick rules head.
    Robert Fanshaw-Bayley, the Chief Superintendent in charge of
crime, was the other visitor. Despite his fancy-sounding name and
appearance, he was as tough and hard-edged as Crosby, but ten years
younger. He thought he’d seen and heard everything in his time, but
the Chiefs words left him gobsmacked.
    August could see what effect his announcement had had, but
there was no going back now.
    ‘ So I hope you’ll give her your whole-hearted support,’ he
finished weakly.
    ‘ And there’s no doubt about it - she’s gonna need a hell of a
lot,’ said Fanshaw-Bayley. He clammed up as soon as the words were
out of his mouth.
    The Chief kept his temper. ‘I admit she’s inexperienced, but
she’s very capable.’
    ‘ And ambitious,’ interjected Crosby. ‘Isn’t this what it’s all
about - ambition?’ His Liverpool accent, normally undetectable,
became more pronounced.
    ‘ It’ll be a good challenge for her,’ August said. ‘And yes, it
won’t do her career any harm.’
    Crosby sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
    ‘ This crime,’ he said, ‘is above career ambition. In my
opinion, Ronnie Veevers is the man who should be running it. He’s
got the experience, contacts and ability to run such a large
investigation. He did well on the Baxter shooting and that double
murder over in Colne at the beginning of the year. And he wouldn’t
be heading it because he wants to become a Chief Constable - he’d
be heading it because he wanted to catch the evil bastard that did
it!’ His voice had risen.
    ‘ If she wants some experience, boss, let her run with Veevers.
Be his aide, his assistant or whatever - but don’t let her have the
reins. This is far too big to make mistakes.’
    August sat back in his big chair. The leather creaked. He
indicated Fanshaw-Bayley. ‘Robert, have you anything to
add?’
    ‘ Plenty - but not here and now, except to say I agree with
everything Mr Crosby has said.’ He folded his arms and gazed past
the Chief’s shoulder, out of the window.
    ‘ In that case - meeting over,’ the Chief concluded
airily.
    ‘ What exactly does that mean, sir?’ Crosby asked.
    ‘ It means that Miss Wilde heads the investigation.’
    After they had gone Karen emerged from the en-suite. She’d
been listening at the door.
    ‘ You were brilliant, boss,’ she cooed.
    ‘ Mm,’ he said doubtfully.
    ‘ Typical misogynistic CID, that’s all,’ she assured him.
‘You’ve taken their toys off them and they don’t like it so they’re
sulking. A boys’ club, that’s all it is. And I’ve got their ball
and I’m going to play with it.’
    ‘ Don’t you let me down,’ August warned her.
    ‘ Would I? Moi?’ She winked at him. ‘Now, that briefing is set for eleven.
I’ll put it back to two, which’ll give me time to get my hair done
and sort out a few new working outfits.’
    Inwardly, Dave August groaned.
     
     
    Crosby and Fanshaw-Bayley walked side by side down the
corridor towards Crosby’s office. The corridor of power. Anyone who
was anyone had an office along here.
    Once behind his own closed door, the man exploded.
    ‘ I simply do not believe what I’ve just heard!’
    He slumped down behind his desk and thumped it with his
fist.
    ‘ Wilde has no experience of police work of any description.
She’s done all the secondments and training courses she needs to do
to get where she is and nothing more. She’s hardly set the world on
fire, just played the system and won. She’s nothing more than a
competent administrator. Jesus, this is appalling. I wonder how long it is
since she was last face to face with an actual villain? Or even a
member of the public, come to that?’
    FB listened to the