Sham by Roger Silverwood

Author:Roger Silverwood [Silverwood, Roger]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2015-08-27T07:00:00+00:00

9.

Angel drove his car up to the front of Bromersley police station and pulled on the handbrake. It was exactly eight o’clock on Monday morning, 9 January. It was gloomy and cold, but fine and dry. It was the day that the Lancashire and South Yorkshire police forces had long been waiting for: the opportunity to put Rikki Rossi behind bars for a good long stretch.

Angel looked up the station steps to see if the superintendent was there. He wasn’t. He sniffed. He spotted a piece of fluff on his coat sleeve; he picked it off and disposed of it through the car window. He looked very smart, smarter than usual; Mary had insisted that he wore his new suit and the shirt she had ironed specially for him, and he looked as smart as a cabinet minister on the pull. He had given evidence at Manchester Assize several times before and so the day was not particularly highly charged for him. The outcome of course, was very important for law and order, the legal system and the national police force, but it was the superintendent’s day and not his. He hadn’t any exacting responsibility. He wasn’t a witness, he was there merely to act as Strawbridge’s chauffeur and to assist with any arm twisting that might be necessary to get Grady into the witness box and deliver his crucial evidence. Given choice, he would have much rather have stayed there in Bromersley and continued the investigation into the mystifying murder of Richard Schumaker.

He spotted movement out of his eye corner. It was Strawbridge; he was running down the station steps. He reached the pavement, opened the car door and jumped in.

‘Good morning, sir.’

‘Good morning, Michael.’

The door slammed shut.

Angel released the handbrake and let in the clutch.

They were soon on the Pennines. Provided the roads were clear and there was no snow at the top, the journey should take about an hour and a half. That would allow time to park the car, meet up with Grady and the CPS’s legal team led by Oliver Twelvetrees and then get a seat in the court.

Strawbridge was in a thoughtful mood, and sat quiet as Angel pressed the car westwards up the Pennines past the reservoirs and through the forests of coniferous trees.

The superintendent suddenly sighed and said, ‘Do you really think Grady will show up?’

Angel considered the question for a moment or two. It was almost impossible to answer. Grady might intend to appear and yet get cold feet at the last minute. But anyway, he thought it would be better to keep Strawbridge in an optimistic mood.

‘Yes. I should think so. Why not? He hates Rossi. For him this will be payback time.’

Strawbridge nodded and rubbed his chin.

It was difficult to judge whether or not he was convinced.

Angel noticed a sign that said, ‘Welcome to Lancashire.’ He checked his watch. They were making good time. The sky was brightening and there was no sign of any snow.

‘Would you put money on it, Michael?’ Strawbridge suddenly said.

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