Winter Frost (Fiction - General) by R.D. Wingfield

Author:R.D. Wingfield
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780094801608
Publisher: Constable
Published: 2011-02-27T16:30:57+00:00

The grim-faced trio sat in a row behind Mullett's mahogany desk like officers at a court martial. Frost almost expected to see a sword with the blade pointing towards him. He pulled a chair over and sat down.

"Please sit down," said Mullett. He introduced the other two officers and let the chief superintendent take over the questioning.

Bailey, a big, hard-faced man, gave Frost his long, cold, intimidating Medusa stare, a stare which had reduced many a hardened suspect to a quivering wreck, all too ready to cough the lot. Frost, who could outstare anyone, flashed back his friendly smile. "Morning."

Bailey nodded to Chief Inspector Hopley, who took out a notebook and began to scribble notes. "We could have done without this, Frost. We've had four deaths in custody already this year and now a fifth . . . And as it is someone who might well be innocent . . ."

"He was guilty," cut in Frost.

Bailey stared again, then continued where he left off as if Frost hadn't spoken. ". . . this is the last thing the Chief Constable wants." He pulled a pipe from his pocket, then a tobacco pouch. Slowly and deliberately he filled the pipe and lit up. Frost took the opportunity to have a cigarette himself.

Bailey waved the pipe at Mullett. "You don't mind, I hope?"

"Of course not," said Mullett, forcing a grin, his eyes watering from the pungent smoke that wafted across.

Bailey took the pipe from his mouth. "It was put to us that you should be immediately suspended from duty."

"Oh?" said Frost, looking at Mullett who quickly turned his head away and stared through the window.

"This damn George Medal of yours makes the whole thing high profile. The press would have a field day: 'George Medal Hero Suspended', that sort of media rubbish." He jabbed the pipe stem at Frost. "And that is something the Chief Constable definitely does not want."

Mullett firmly shook his head from side to side. "Neither do I."

"We want to use your medal to our advantage, not our disadvantage," added Bailey, shooting a glance at Mullett who had abruptly to change gear and go into a vigorous nod. "This is not an official inquiry—that will follow. This is simply a damage limitation exercise." He held out a hand to Hopley who pushed the case files over. "I've been looking at the files. This man Weaver admitted the girl had been to his house and admitted he took photographs of her?"

"After we'd found where he'd hidden them, yes."

Bailey spread the photographs over the desk and pushed them around with his pipe stem. "Nude photographs but nothing really pornographic." He slipped them back in the folder. "Weaver also tried to dispose of a quantity of hard porn photographs?"

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