Never Proven (DCI Charlie Anderson) by Bill Daly

Author:Bill Daly [Daly, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Old Street Publishing
Published: 2018-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

When Charlie and Tony walked into the office together they found Lesley Adams sitting on a chair facing the desk.

‘Are you not working today, Ms Adams?’ Charlie asked as he was stripping off his jacket.

‘I’m on my lunch break.’

Tony squatted with his buttocks on the edge of the desk while Charlie hung his jacket on the hook on the back of the door.

‘What can we do for you?’ Charlie asked, easing himself down onto his swivel chair.

‘There’s something I should have told you yesterday,’ Lesley said hesitantly.

‘What was that?’

Lesley gnawed at her lower lip. ‘Gavin Carter and I are in a relationship,’ she said in little more than a whisper.

‘Really?’

Lesley straightened her back. ‘I’ve done nothing wrong!’

‘Nobody said that you had.’

‘It’s just that – well, I know how it looks.’

‘How does it look?’

‘I don’t need to spell it out for you, Inspector. I was the family’s social worker for six years. I’ve known Gavin since he was thirteen. I could tell from very early on that he fancied me, but I did nothing to encourage him. In fact, quite the reverse. I went out of my way to make sure I kept him at arms’ length. When Gavin was seventeen, he plucked up the courage to ask me out for a drink. Of course, I refused. He was mature for his age – and I have to admit that I was attracted to him, but my duty of care as a social worker precludes me from having any kind of personal relationship with a client before they reach the age of eighteen. I was scrupulous about that. I even filled out a report stating that he had asked me out for a drink – and that I had refused. I brought the report to the attention of my manager. She gave me the third degree. Understandably. We take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. She wanted to know why he had asked me out. Had I ever flirted with him? Given him any indication whatsoever that I might be interested in him? I managed to convince her that I had done everything by the book. That was the real reason I put in for a transfer,’ Lesley added, lowering her gaze. ‘I was becoming more and more attracted to Gavin. I knew it would only be a matter of time before we got together – and tongues would begin to wag. A few months after his eighteenth birthday we met up for a drink – and things developed from there.’

‘Is Gavin’s father aware of your relationship?’

Lesley blushed furiously. ‘Why should he be? It’s none of his business. Gavin is nineteen – he’s a grown man – and I’m twenty-eight. A nine year age difference isn’t all that unusual, Inspector,’ Lesley added defensively.

Charlie held up both hands in a conciliatory gesture. ‘Nobody’s saying you’ve done anything wrong, Ms Adams.’ Charlie steepled his fingers and rested his chin on them. ‘Do you mind telling me why you didn’t say anything about this

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