The Retirement Murder (Esther & Jack Enright Mystery Book 9) by David Field

Author:David Field [Field, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2025-04-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

The following morning, Jack sighed as he contemplated the mounting pile of application forms from would-be recruits who he was required to interview whenever he got the opportunity, then looked up when he sensed a presence in his doorway. It proved to be the uniformed constable who ran errands for Assistant Commissioner Bruce, and he looked far from friendly.

‘The AC wants to see you — now, or in ten seconds with your arms up your back. Your choice — sir.’

Jack was barely inside Bruce’s office when the Assistant Commissioner bellowed, ‘What the hell did Enright think he was up to last night?’

‘You mean my uncle?’ Jack asked, without thinking.

‘Of course I mean your uncle — are there any other Enrights on the force that I have to contend with?’

‘What’s he done?’ Jack asked as he anticipated the worst.

‘He’s currently in the process of being released from Bethnal Green Police Station on my authority, after being run in for shooting two men, that’s what he’s done. One of them’s dead, and the other won’t be walking for a considerable period, if at all. You were given a specific order that you were leading the enquiry into the poisoning of Chief Superintendent Montague, and yet it would seem that you let your uncle run riot through the East End without attempting to supervise what he was about. Can you claim otherwise?’

‘No,’ Jack admitted feebly. ‘But from what you tell me, may I conclude that he came to no harm? I’m sure he had a very good reason for his actions, and was forced to shoot in self-defence.’

‘No doubt, but what I need to know is what in God’s name he was doing that required him to take such drastic action?’

‘There have been significant developments in our enquiries, sir,’ Jack began to explain. ‘First of all, we believe that the real target for the poisoning may have been my uncle. Secondly, we believe that the unexplained murder of a former officer in B Division who was dismissed from the force by Montague may be attributed to his widow, and that she’s somehow linked with the poisoning attempt. It also may relate back to a former case that was investigated — successfully — by Inspector Enright.’

‘If she was in some way seeking revenge against Enright, then why was Montague the one who was poisoned?’

‘We believe that the perpetrator may have poisoned the wrong beer glass.’

‘When you say “we”, can you assure me that you still have control of this matter, and haven’t just let your uncle take over the show, playing by his own set of rules, which rarely coincide with the Procedures Manual?’

‘Absolutely, sir.’

‘That’s perhaps as well, because Enright was told, on his release, that he’s no longer a serving Met officer. His delayed retirement has been revoked. He’s to be allowed nowhere near this matter in future, understood?’

‘Yes, sir. What about Sergeant Blair and Constable Pinkney, sir?’

‘They will remain at your disposal until the end of the day, after which they’re being transferred to Armed Robberies.

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