Devil's Kitchen: An Inspector Drake Prequel Novella by Stephen Puleston

Author:Stephen Puleston
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2016-04-27T23:00:00+00:00

5.45pm

Superintendent Price snorted his disbelief down the telephone handset at some comment Drake couldn’t hear. Then he rolled his eyes at Drake, feigning surprise. Once he had finished he replaced the telephone with a flourish. ‘Do you know Superintendent Jones from Western Division?’ He didn’t wait for Drake to reply. ‘He’s just caught out the bean counters from Cardiff making a mistake with his budget. He gave them a piece of his mind.’

Price drew himself nearer the desk, and stared over at Drake. ‘How is the inquiry progressing?’

Drake summarised the new eyewitness evidence; Price nodded encouragingly.

‘It might be time to organise a press conference and appeal for witnesses,’ Drake said.

‘Realistically, Ian, how many people were on the mountain that morning?’

‘It’s difficult to tell, sir. That’s why we might raise the profile.’

‘But what are the chances of identifying a walker with a red jacket? I think I’ve got two myself.’

Drake paused; he knew the likely obstacles.

Price continued. ‘Have you seen the preliminary forensics report?’

Drake nodded. The crime scene investigators must have emailed the report to Price as well, Drake guessed.

‘I’m sorry, Ian, but I can’t have resources wasted on pursuing some phantom mountain walker.’

‘Jack Trainor had strong religious views, sir. He would have considered suicide a mortal sin.’

‘So you think there was someone else on the mountain. An unknown somebody who killed Jack Trainor. What could be the motive? For Christ sake, Ian you need a motive.’

‘We know that Jack Trainor believed his wife was having an affair—’

‘So the lover follows them up the mountain and when he sees Trainor killing his wife then throws Trainor to his death. Come off it, Ian that’s stretching it.’

A part of him wanted to agree with the superintendent, complete the paperwork for the coroner and then file the papers away. As it was his first case he wasn’t certain how far it might be prudent to push his proposal of a press conference. So he suggested a compromise.

‘We’ll need to complete all the inquiries for the coroner’s court. I want to make certain we’ve identified any eyewitnesses who could help.’

Price pondered. Drake could see the superior officer calculating how best to respond. Eventually, he nodded. ‘I don’t think we need a press conference. That’s going over the top. Get the PR department to draft a press release announcing that we’re looking for a hiker with a red jacket and asking for any eyewitnesses to come forward.’ He opened the palms of his hands, emphasising the futility of the whole exercise.

‘I’ll get something organised in the morning.’ Drake stood up and made to leave.

‘Keep me posted.’

Drake nodded although he suspected Price was more informed than he was about the post mortem and the forensics report.

Drake returned to the Incident Room. Caren had her coat on, car keys in hand.

‘How did you get on with George Lamont?’

‘He admits trying it on with Denise when she first joined the department but he realised soon enough that she wasn’t interested. He flatly denied that he favoured her: said that any such suggestion was just petty jealousy.

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