Read Spider's Web for Free Online Page B

it really came down to it, nothing had changed. The same principle still reigned supreme – look out for number one.
    ‘There are a lot of people watching us, waiting for us to slip up,’ continued Garrett. ‘So we have to do this right.’
    ‘I don’t understand. Why give me this job, why even set up this unit if you’re just going to box us into a corner?’
    ‘You’re not boxed into a corner. Get back out there on the streets, start interviewing prostitutes again. All we need is one witness who’s willing to talk about what went on at the Winstanleys’ house.’
    ‘We’ve already spoken to every prostitute and pimp in South Yorkshire. Nobody’s talking.’ Jim jabbed his finger at Thomas Villiers’ photo. ‘Villiers is the weak link. No one else can be directly connected to both Edward Forester and the Winstanleys – at least, no one who’s alive. If you’d just give us permission to talk to the former residents of homes he’s worked at, I’m sure we could dig up some dirt on him.’
    Before Jim had finished, Garrett was shaking his head again. Jim threw up his hands in exasperation. ‘Then you might as well shut us down.’
    ‘Actually, that brings me to another thing I have to tell you.’ Garrett’s voice took on a faintly apologetic tone. ‘It’s been decided that from today your unit will be stripped back to yourself and Detectives Geary and Greenwood.’
    No flicker of surprise showed on Jim’s face. He’d been expecting something like this for the past couple of months. Nor was it a surprise who’d been chosen to remain on the unit. Scott Greenwood was Garrett’s man through and through, his earpiece. As for Reece, Garrett was clearly uncomfortable with his continued presence on the Major Incident Team. The Chief Superintendent didn’t need to be much of a detective to realise Reece’s past was less than pristine. And that posed a threat to his future vision for both the team and himself. It was obvious to Jim that Reece’s days were numbered. Sooner or later, Garrett would find some excuse to shunt the big detective out of Major Incidents, quite possibly even out of his job. He would probably have already done so if Jim hadn’t taken Reece under his wing. ‘Decided by who?’
    ‘The decision’s been made. That’s all you need to know.’
    Garrett’s reply confirmed what Jim already knew. The decision had come from higher up. And when enough time for the sake of appearances had passed, no doubt another decision would be made to shut down the unit altogether. Jim could just imagine the ripple of relief that would pass through the force’s upper echelons when that day came. This case was simply too much of a hot potato for the top brass to handle.
    Garrett glanced at his watch. ‘Anyway, I’d better be going. My wife will be wondering where—’ He broke off, realising the insensitivity of his words. ‘I’ll see you Monday.’ He started to turn away, then added as an afterthought, ‘Oh, and Burnham told me about what happened outside the station. Have you deleted the photos?’
    Jim was silent a beat, before replying, ‘Yes.’
    When Garrett was gone, Jim opened a desk drawer and took out a key. It was flat with notches on both edges. He ran his thumb thoughtfully over the notches. With a sudden decisive movement, he picked up the phone and punched in a number. After several rings, Anna Young’s ever-intense voice came down the line. ‘Who is this?’
    ‘Jim Monahan.’
    ‘Chief Inspector Monahan, I didn’t expect to be hearing from you so soon.’
    ‘Call me Jim. We need to meet.’
    ‘Where and when?’
    ‘Do you know the White Lion?’
    ‘On London Road?’
    ‘That’s the one. I’ll see you there in about twenty minutes.’
    ‘This is about more than just my camera, isn’t it?’
    Jim’s eyebrows lifted slightly at Anna’s perceptiveness. ‘Yes,’ he said and hung up.
    The White Lion hummed with the conversation and laughter of Friday-night drinkers.