The Blame by Charlotte Langley

Author:Charlotte Langley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-12T08:17:40+00:00

22

‘Sophie’s name’s not in the system, so I take it you didn’t log it?’ she asked.

Drummond shook his head. He and Saunders looked a lot more sheepish than they had done less than a fortnight ago, when they’d first reported seeing Fraser and Sophie in the car park. Now Saunders’ scrappy moustache was turned downwards in a mopey triangle. Erin probably wasn’t his favourite detective after she’d asked to speak to Tom. You owe me, the expression in his eyes seemed to say.

‘Is there any other way someone could have found out about the argument you saw? Did you call someone about it? Did you talk to anyone in the office?’

‘I don’t think so,’ he said.

Erin didn’t buy that. They’d said something and they knew it.

‘We have no evidence of a previous connection between DCI Radley and Sophie Madson. Right now, we’re in the dark. Anything you know could make a difference.’

They exchanged a nervous glance.

‘Well, we did mention it once,’ said Saunders. ‘Just in passing in the office.’

‘I really don’t see how it could be relevant though,’ Drummond added.

‘What made you bring it up?’

They looked at her guiltily. It took Erin a few seconds to get it, and when she did she had to resist rolling her eyes.

‘It was dark and she had lots of make-up on,’ said Drummond apologetically. ‘I didn’t know she was sixteen. I thought she was about twenty.’

‘So you mentioned to the guys that you’d seen this good-looking girl out?’

‘No, no, it wasn’t like that. You know Walker?’

The hair on her arms prickled. She nodded.

‘He was – well…’ He gave her a guilty look. ‘It’s a bit awkward. It’s just lads, you know.’

‘I’ve been here long enough. Trust me, I’ve heard it all.’

‘Well, he was showing everyone in the office photos of this woman he’d just interviewed,’ he said, ‘and he went round everyone, asking them who they’d come across on jobs, getting these girls’ profiles up. And you know, telling them whether they had good taste or not.’

She could imagine this clear as day. She’d seen Walker do it before. Making a big performance out of the fact he hadn’t lost his virility or whatever, as if anyone would go for a crumbling relic like him.

‘It’s not like I was really into it,’ Drummond added. ‘It’s more that he’s senior. You want to be on his good side.’

‘So you brought up Sophie?’

‘I couldn’t remember her full name. Just Sophie. Thank God. Can you imagine? He’d have got her profile up and we’d have seen she was still in school. I’d have looked like a complete creep.’

‘But you said you’d seen this pretty gymnast arguing with her coach? You described her?’

He nodded.

‘I don’t think that would have been enough – if it is DCI Radley…’

‘Can you remember who was there when this happened?’

‘Everyone, it felt like. Lots of uniforms. I think yourself and Adlington were on the other table and Radley on another. I’d say he was within earshot.’

She went in search of Walker first thing the next day.

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