Persons Unknown by Susie Steiner

Author:Susie Steiner
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008123352
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2017-04-26T04:00:00+00:00

Davy

At the front of the main major crime room Davy coughs into his fist, but no one stops talking.

He can smell brewing coffee, reminding him he’s tired – of the office lighting and the broad white desks. Behind him, Harriet claps – just once, and not even that loudly. Everyone snaps to attention.

‘Thanks everyone,’ he says, more uncertainly than he’d like. ‘So to update you, we have had forensic analysis back from Videotrue on the CCTV of the footpath close to where Mr Ross’s body was found. The analysis shows a red colour on Fly Dent’s hand, which could be blood where he is holding, or has held, the murder weapon.’

He stops. His face is prickling with something like an allergy. He’s done this enough times. Why’s his nerve giving way this time? He’s put away plenty of murderers, heard plenty of desperate tales, sob stories, people with no luck, no money. No love in their lives.

This one’s different.

Colin is eating an apricot Danish. Kim Delaney is looking at the whiteboard that’s just behind him. Harriet is watching him, her arms folded. He can’t throw his voice to the room, can’t lift his chin. He’s ashamed of his main-lines-of-enquiry list, of his badge, of the dirty job he’s got to do. He is alone, up here at the front. Is he alone in fitting up a child because the boss wants it tidy? He recalls Manon shouting, ‘You’re not up to the job, Davy. You’re not!’

He swallows, then says, ‘We are prioritising cardiovascular pathology reports to back up Derry’s, the timeline of Jon-Oliver Ross’s travel to Huntingdon, witness statements. Non-sensitive documents – Colin, I’m directing this at you – like phone records, historic bank work, emails, they need to be moved out of the way, into the general folder on the O drive. Finally, I want to talk to you about the press. We do not want Fly Dent’s name or age to come out in relation to this homicide, OK?’

‘They already know a 12-year-old has been arrested,’ says Kim.

‘Yes, but there are comprehensive reporting restrictions all over this case. Please be mindful of that everyone, OK? Can I also remind you that it might be New Year’s Eve, but it is still a full working day and this is a murder investigation, so no sneaking off early everyone, OK?’

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