Below Ground by Michael Wood

Author:Michael Wood [Wood, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008535629
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Three

As Scott left Christian’s office, he almost ran into a PC delivering an Amazon box to Zofia.

‘January sales?’ he asked.

She set about opening the box. ‘I was thinking about Steve Harrison yesterday and all the coverage he’s received. There have been so many books written about him already, yet not all of the writers have actually visited him in prison to talk to him. I thought I’d order the books by the writers who haven’t just stolen his story from the newspapers, but who have taken the time to visit Wakefield Prison and speak to the source.’ She began unloading the paperbacks. ‘Maybe there’s some clue as to who Steve has had contact with. Or maybe an author has spoken to someone else we don’t know about.’

‘Good thinking,’ he said, going over to her desk and helping her with the contents of the box. ‘The Hangman’s Hold by Lionel Miller,’ Scott read from the cover.

‘That’s the most famous one. That’s the one that was turned into a Netflix documentary.’

‘Did you see it?’

‘I’ve been watching it this morning on one of my screens.’ She pointed to the left-hand monitor and a frozen image of a bloodied, handcuffed Steve Harrison being led to a police car. The photo captured the smirk on his face. It was a photo that adorned the majority of the front pages of the nation’s newspapers the following day. The journalists knew they were on to something special with a grinning serial killer.

‘Every time I see that picture, it brings it all back.’

‘You were there, weren’t you? When he was arrested.’

‘I was unconscious. He pushed me into the side of a speeding tram. How I wasn’t killed is anyone’s guess.’

Zofia glanced past Scott and into Christian’s office where the DI and Sian looked to be having a tense conversation.

‘Scott, I don’t mean to be negative here, but do you think it would be better if the Chief Constable brought in an outside team to look for Matilda? If Steve is involved …’

‘What do you mean, “if”? He is involved,’ Scott almost snapped.

‘That’s what I’m talking about. You’re all too close. You’re all angry at Steve Harrison. With emotions running high, that’s when mistakes are likely to happen.’

‘Zofia, you weren’t here when Steve did what he did. You don’t know what we’re going through. We know him. Inside and out.’

‘Which is precisely my point. You know him too much. Maybe someone who doesn’t will approach this better.’ She held her hands up in submission. ‘I’m not saying anything bad about anyone on this team. I care for all of you. I just don’t want to see any of you getting hurt. Look at Christian and Sian right now. Go on.’ Scott turned around. ‘They look like they’re at a funeral.’

Scott studied his long-term colleagues. He knew exactly what Zofia was thinking. This was a personal case and Christian, Sian, himself, Finn, they all had a personal stake in this. They just had to keep reminding themselves not to let their emotions get too intense, which was easier said than done.

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