Proximity by Jem Tugwell

Author:Jem Tugwell [Tugwell, Jem]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781916022317
Publisher: Serpentine Books
Published: 2019-06-05T23:00:00+00:00

35

DI Clive Lussac

The indoor roof garden of iMe’s office in Richmond displayed West London’s greenery at its best on this bright afternoon: uninterrupted views of Richmond Park, round to Kew Gardens, and even a glimpse of Hampton Court. We’d been told that all the meeting rooms were booked but that everyone used this less formal space. Manu and Emma sat opposite Zoe and me. We each had a colourful balance-ball to perch on. I couldn’t keep the stupid thing still while I puzzled over the drinks menu. Eighteen different types of still water. How could they be different? I clicked a random selection.

‘Excellent choice,’ Manu said. ‘It’s my favourite.’

The chilled vibe of the iMe offices felt like nothing was wrong. Manu and Emma looked too relaxed.

‘I’ve got two dead bodies, your current boss with an encrypted signal and your old boss running around with a Suppressor,’ I said, irked and venting. ‘What’s going on?’

Manu looked shocked. ‘We’re all working flat-out to resolve the situation.’

Gentle laughter drifted over from a group nearby. ‘Sounds like it,’ Zoe said, looking past Manu at the group.

‘Why doesn’t it work then?’ I stared at Emma, trying to get her to contribute something, anything.

Eventually, through a tight mouth, she said, ‘It does.’

‘Then show me who my killer is.’

Manu and Emma exchanged a glance, and Manu spread his hands. ‘We’re all trying.’

Emma just stared.

‘Try harder,’ I shouted, and lost my balance. I caught myself and stood but my foot hit my balance-ball and sent it bouncing across the floor. All the heads spun towards the noise.

‘Let’s go, Zoe.’ I raised my voice so that whole roof garden could hear. ‘No one here seems to give a shit.’

***

‘I don’t understand the problem, ma’am,’ I said. ‘Before Alan’s body showed up, our next step was to talk to Art about his encrypted signal.’

I was pushing for a full, public confrontation to rattle Art as much as possible and pile the pressure on him. Either as Art left Parliament or in his office, but Bhatt smiled as she vetoed the idea. ‘I’m brave, but not stupid. You’ve no evidence against him,’ she said. ‘I’ll get him to come here for an interview. Tread carefully until we have something concrete.’

‘But–’ I protested.

She held her finger up. ‘But we have to live with him if we can’t prove anything.’

I had a feeling about Art being more involved than he was saying, but what if I was wrong? He would make a powerful enemy.

‘And what about Esteban?’ Zoe asked.

True, there were Esteban’s Suppressors to think about.

All the years of not having to think made me indecisive. Every cop was warned about paralysis by analysis, but I was more a case of paralysis by indecisiveness. But what was that phrase Esteban had used? ‘Fuck that shit.’ I liked it; it was like reliving a favourite flavour. I let it play around in my head.

‘Boss?’

‘FTS.’ Time for action. ‘We’ll interview Art first and then Esteban.’

***

Now Art stretched out in his chair in Interview Room One, relaxed and confident despite the contrast of the small room to his own luxurious office.

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