The Trenches by Parker Bilal

Author:Parker Bilal
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canongate Books

20

Crane realised she needed more time and decided she would have to stay in Grimsby overnight. Andy Felton found her a small bed and breakfast on the seafront at Cleethorpes and then insisted on taking her to dinner.

‘Don’t you have a family to go home to?’ she asked, worried about where this was heading.

‘The advantages of being divorced. Nights off.’

Divorced wasn’t a good sign and there was a certain glint in his eye that told her she might have trouble with him later. In the end he proved the perfect gentleman. They ate at a gastropub run by a couple of ex-policemen. The food was good and the portions so enormous Crane had to leave a third of her risotto on the plate. Afterwards Felton walked her back to her lodgings.

‘You and Cal are an item, I take it?’

‘Everyone assumes that,’ said Crane. ‘We’re too different, or too much alike. I can’t decide which.’

‘He’s a good detective. The kind of officer the Met needs more of, frankly.’

‘He doesn’t seem to think so.’

‘The thing about Cal – what makes him a good detective – is that once he’s got his teeth into something he never gives in.’

‘You’re thinking of this business with Brodie. The reason he came up here?’

‘He needs to learn to let things go.’ Felton was shaking his head. ‘I’ve seen what it can do to people, good coppers, losing it over that one case they can never close.’

Outside the entrance Felton held out his hand.

‘It’s been a pleasure.’

She held on for a moment longer. ‘If you really want to help, perhaps you could tell me where to find Rab Otley?’

Andy Felton laughed. ‘I can see why Cal and you work well together. Neither of you knows how to give up.’

‘What would be the point of that?’

‘Okay, I’ll tell you what, I’ll pick you up tomorrow at nine sharp.’

‘Actually, I’d rather speak to him alone, if you don’t mind.’

If Felton was put out by that, he didn’t show it. ‘I understand. I’ll make a few calls and let you know.’ He hesitated. ‘But if you change your mind, you know how to reach me.’

‘Thanks,’ she said, adding a smile. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

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