The Wreckage - Michael Robotham [25]
“Zac Osborne. War vet. Iraq and Afghanistan. Wounded twice, won the Queen’s Gallantry Medal. After his second spell in hospital he became addicted to painkillers and the military discharged him. He was arrested eighteen months ago for breaking into a pharmacy in Kew. Given a good behavior bond because of his military record.”
“What about the girl?”
“Holly Knight. Nineteen. In and out of foster care since the age of seven. She has two convictions for shoplifting and others for criminal damage, resisting arrest and anti-social behavior.”
“What did she do?”
“Broke a shop window, threw fireworks at a police horse and wrestled with a police constable.”
“Where is she now?”
“Next door.”
“You keeping her in?”
“For as long as we can.”
There is a knock. A familiar figure fills the doorframe. Commander Campbell Smith looks like he’s been stitched into his uniform. Every button polished. Shoe leather gleaming. Ruiz has known him for forty years—ever since they did their training together at the Police Staff College, Bramshill. He also introduced Campbell to his wife Maureen at a barbecue—having slept with her first, a fact that didn’t enamor him to either of them.
It’s been four years since Ruiz last saw him. Campbell has been promoted. He was always on the fast track. Not so much nose to the grindstone as nose between the cheeks.
“Vincent.”
“Campbell. You’re a commander now. Congratulations.”
They shake hands. Campbell smiles. He has a great smile. You can see the child in it before the wear and tear of a thirty-year marriage and a longer sentence with the Metropolitan Police.
“When they told me they had Vincent Ruiz in the interview room, I thought it must be a mistake. Had to come and see it for myself.”
Ruiz opens his arms and does a slow turn.
“You’ve put on weight.”
“Living the good life. How’s Maureen?”
“She’s gone on a cruise.”
“Mediterranean?”
“Canada.”
Campbell Smith leans closer. Motions him to do the same.
“How did you get mixed up in this?”
“I’m an accidental tourist.”
The commander nods. His hat is tucked under the crook of his left arm. “You know why this guy was killed?”
“Nope.”
He gives Ruiz a wry half smile and maybe a twitch of the eyebrow. Then he tosses his head towards the door.
“Do you know what I learned first day in this job, Vincent?”
How to brown nose, thinks Ruiz.
“I learned that the simple answer is nearly always the right one. The explanation is never that complicated. There’s no mystery. The guy was a junkie. It’s a drug deal gone wrong.”
“So that’s the official version?”
“You think there’s more than one version?”
“There’s always more than one version.”
Campbell stares at him with his head cocked to one side. Turning to leave, he adds, “I’ve told the SOCOs you won’t mind having your fingernails scraped and giving them some swabs.”
“Anything to help.”
“Maybe you could also do us another favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Make a statement and press charges against Holly Knight.”
Ruiz can see where he’s going with this. The police need a reason to hold her.
“Can I speak to her?”
“No.”
“She stole something from me—pieces of jewelry that belonged to my first wife. My daughter is getting married next weekend. The jewelry was going to be a present.”
Campbell sucks in his cheeks and puckers his lips reflectively. “If you lodged a complaint against Holly Knight, those items would be regarded as evidence.”
“And I wouldn’t get them back for months.”
The faintest trace of a smile enters Campbell’s eyes. “Sorry, old chap, I can’t get involved. No hard feelings.”
Ruiz isn’t going to forget the feelings.
Campbell wants the final word. “Listen to me, Vincent, this whole ‘don’t fuck with me’ act might have worked when you were still on the job, but you’re a civilian now.”
The commander turns and marches down the corridor, an ordered man with a disordered heart.
12
LONDON
The Courier watches a skinny black-haired girl in a G-string and high heels undulate around a pole, moving like there’s an itch in her groin that she can’t quite reach. He pulls a twenty from his wallet and