Doctor Who_ The Hollow Men - Keith Topping [40]
„Your own position is being questioned,‟ continued Melanie, doggedly.
„What?‟
„Some journalist has already looked up Proteus‟s board of directors, found your name and Squire‟s...‟ Hatch swore under his breath. „I‟m already investigating the circulation of memos and confidential reports at this office, Matthew. I have one or two ideas where the leak might have originated.‟
„No need,‟ said Hatch, deep in thought. „Leave it with me.‟
Melanie nodded curtly, and stepped out of the room. Hatch sat quietly, drumming his fingers against the desk. Given that he trusted his own team, and that there was no way that Squire or any of his people would have compromised themselves, only one person remained.
Rebecca Baber.
That slippery, calculating little bitch had wormed her way into his bed and taken more than a good time away with her.
He should have realised sooner, of course, but when you‟ve known somebody since they were three years old, it‟s hard to see into their dark corners.
Hatch picked up the phone and dialled a number. As he waited for an answer he cursed again. Taken in by a vicar‟s daughter. Unreal.
„Phil?‟ he said urgently when the other phone was picked up. „Listen, mate, I‟ve got a job for you.‟
Chief Constable Denman swept into the room, and a million trifling conversations ebbed away. His uniform was immaculate, the buttons gleaming like diamonds. The assembled officers sat upright in their seats, straightening ties and tucking in shirts and blouses.
„I want to keep this short,‟ said Denman. He stood at the head of the table, hands held behind his back. „I have a radio interview in forty minutes, and then a meeting with the Home Secretary. Now, Shanks. Chief Inspector Ross has kept me informed. You know how important Shanks is to me, so I thought I‟d drop in and have a word. I don‟t think the cocky little bugger is on to us, but time is clearly of the essence.
James, what‟s the latest on Green?‟
DI McMahon was a good-looking young man who‟d accelerated through the ranks under Denman‟s tutelage, just before Denman himself had been promoted „upstairs‟. He looked up from the folder in front of him. „Still unwilling to testify, sir. I think Shanks‟s boys have been putting the choke on him, but it‟s difficult to prove. I‟ve hinted we‟ll be lenient with the burglary charge if he squeals, but -‟
„Do more than hint,‟ said Denman. „Give him a copper-bottomed guarantee if you want. Just get that man in court.‟
„Sir.‟
„Brian, I‟ve heard you‟ve made progress on the stolen electrical goods.‟
DC Kennedy, seeming to enjoy the opportunity to wear jeans and T-shirt in the station, looked up with a wide grin.
„Yes, sir. We were told about a lorry-load of VCRs and DVDs destined for Shanks‟s chain of ex-rental shops. We trailed the vehicle to a lock-up on one of his estates, and then the goods themselves right into one of his warehouses. Photographic and video evidence, the lot. Jeremy Beadle wants to use some of the material on his next show.‟
There was laughter, but it was not shared by Denman. „I had hoped to get him on something more serious than receiving stolen goods, but it‟ll still carry a prison sentence.
That‟s good. And the CPS are convinced?‟
„Yes, sir. We‟ll start proceedings any day now.‟
„Excellent. Paul, what‟s the latest on the internecine drug conflicts?‟
„The Yardies are still fuming, sir,‟ replied DI Paul Hill, whose expensively tailored suit looked as much a uniform as Denman‟s formal attire. „They and Shanks have carved up the city between them, but now Shanks‟s tribe is moving into Yardie territory. I‟ve got a few good contacts there, and hope to be able to get a result pretty soon.‟
„Including actual interception of consignment?‟
„I hope so, sir. There‟s a shedload of Colombian on its way, plus enough crack to keep his pushers supplied for the next decade. And we‟ve just had word that he makes synthetics on site. Supposedly he‟s got a chemist drop-out from the university producing stuff to order somewhere in Everton, but nobody‟s talking.‟
„More than enough