Crossed Lines by Steve Burford

Author:Steve Burford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, Contemporary, crime, family-drama, gay, policeman, murder, gay and lesbian switchboard, MP
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2021-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“Morning, all.”

“You’re late.”

“That’s how you know it’s me, not some imposter.” Claire hung her coat up and looked around the office. There was something in the air, above and beyond the latest cologne Terry Cortez was trying out. “What’s up? And where’s Dave?” No use assuming that he was even later than her. He was never late, except when she made him pick her up first.

“Madden’s office,” Jenny said.

Claire ignored Jim’s harrumph. “What for?”

Jenny shrugged. “Hard to keep up with the life of a media superstar.”

“Yes, but don’t worry. I will try to keep it real with the little people,” said Dave, walking in and catching the end of Jenny’s comment. He nodded his good morning to Claire. “Meeting with Dale at two?”

“Yes. And what did Madden want?”

Dave looked around the room at Claire, Trent, Rudge and Cortez. No one was even pretending not to be listening this time. “I’ve been asked to give an interview about the case.”

“Another television interview?” Claire said. “And you thought Moody didn’t like you.”

“Actually, no,” said Dave reluctantly “This is an interview for a magazine, Campaign.”

“And what the hell is Campaign when it’s at home?” Rudge growled.

“One of the biggest mainstream gay magazines in the UK at the moment, of course.” Claire recalled Clive Grover’s list of the magazines the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard advertised in. “What?” she said, catching Dave’s expression of faint disbelief. “It’s only people’s names I can’t remember. Magazines I’m good on.”

“So, Sergeant Lyon is going to become a pinup boy as well, eh?” Jenny poked Sergeant Cortez in the side. “Eat your heart out, Tel. I know you’ve always fancied yourself as a bit of a model.”

“That’s…” Rudge had a face like a threatening storm cloud.

“Not the kind of magazine it is,” Dave interrupted quickly. “The clue is kind of in the name.”

“It’s camp?” Claire said.

“Yeah, that is an in-joke I think we could all have done without. No, it’s a campaigning magazine, a bit more serious than its rival.” He hesitated, apparently unsure whether he was making matters better or worse. “A bit more political.” He looked across to Claire.

Claire knew the others in the room were waiting for her to kick off at this latest example of her subordinate officer’s grandstanding. She was pretty sure at least one of them wanted her to. And maybe before her night on the switchboard with Dave, she would have done. Now though… “Good for you,” she said, and she meant it. “Be good for the gay community and the police.” Her intentions were good, but even she cringed a little inwardly at how earnestly they came out. My God. I’ll be going on bloody gay pride marches next. Or turning into a chief superintendent. She was slightly surprised to see that Dave still looked unhappy. It occurred to her that he hadn’t yet told them everything.

“They want to do a human-interest story on me,” Dave went on.

“Barking up the wrong tree on both counts there,” said Jenny in what was almost an aside to Cortez.

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