Deadly Christmas (Detective Zoe Finch Book 7) by Rachel McLean

Author:Rachel McLean [McLean, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing
Published: 2022-11-24T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

“How are you finding it, settling in to a new team?”

“Fine, thanks for asking.”

Zoe and Layla were in the main office, standing next to the board. Connie and Rhodri had left, each of them shooting Zoe a questioning look as they did so. She’d taken plenty of opportunities to chat alone with Mo; there was no reason this should be any different. And her DCs had to get used to that.

“Connie and Rhodri being OK with you? No problems managing their work?”

“None at all, boss. They’re good DCs. You’re right.” Layla’s nose twitched.

Zoe pushed back a smile. Layla was trying to impress Zoe, and she knew how close the team was. Whatever her views on Connie and Rhodri, she would flatter them.

Zoe sat in Connie’s chair, letting her arms flop on the armrests. She rubbed her forehead; she sensed a headache coming on. “Was it strange being at a post-mortem, after all this time?”

Layla, still standing, flinched. “It hasn’t been that long.”

“I looked at your file,” Zoe replied. “You haven’t investigated a murder for over five years.”

“Six, actually. One in Longbridge. But no. ACC Jackson’s death was investigated by Force CID and by the time his involvement in the corruption around the Canary case was uncovered, that was water under the bridge.”

“How did that make you feel?”

Layla frowned. “I don’t get you.”

“Assistant Chief Constable Jackson was the highest ranking officer in this force ever to be identified as corrupt. But because he died before your team was able to nail him, that fact was never publicly revealed. Did that make you feel as if PSD were being sidelined?”

“It’s not my job to judge decisions made by senior officers.”

Zoe snorted. “Come on, Layla. This is just you and me here.”

Layla turned to look at her. “Surely you can ask DI Whaley what his views are on the subject.”

Zoe’s eyes widened. “Touché. OK, I’ll stop asking you about your time in PSD. I can see how it might be something you don’t want to discuss. But I want to clear the air between us.”

“So do I, boss. You do know, when I interviewed you, I genuinely—”

Zoe held up a hand. “You were doing your job, Layla. There was good reason to look at the people I was associated with and wonder if I was corrupt too. I’m sure even Carl had his doubts from time to time.”

“If you don’t mind me saying, boss, during Ian Osman’s trial, when you and Detective Superintendent Randle went off in search of Trevor Hamm. It seemed… out of character for you.”

“First off, let’s not glorify the man by using his title. David Randle was bad news. And yes, maybe I shouldn’t have done what I did. But it helped to make the link between Randle and Hamm. I wanted him to think he could trust me, and then he might reveal something he wouldn’t have let slip otherwise.”

“You’d worked with him for many years. I can imagine it was hard to change your behaviour towards him.

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