Читать книгу The Chosen Ones - G Sanders D - Страница 10

The day was coming to an end and the young Detective Constables Jenny Eastham and Nat Borrowdale were the first to leave the CID Room, but not together. Jenny let Nat get well clear of the building before she locked files in her desk drawer and said she was off for an early night. Ed had noticed the atmosphere between Jenny and Nat had changed dramatically. They’d always been competitive but now there was a new edge to their exchanges. At team meetings Nat had stopped trying to catch Jenny’s eye; in fact, he noticeably avoided doing so.

It wasn’t her concern but, from soon after her arrival in Canterbury, Ed had wondered if Nat was the right man for Jenny. Physically, they were a strikingly attractive couple. Nat’s dark hair and sharp features contrasted markedly with Jenny’s fresh face and honey-blonde head. Ed’s doubt came from her perception of them as people. Jenny was bright, open and honest. Nat was more closed, with a suggestion of potential danger behind his eyes.

Ed watched the door close behind Jenny before turning back to the document on her screen. A few minutes later, her second-in-command, Detective Sergeant Mike Potts, stretched, yawned loudly and pushed back his chair before levering his somewhat overweight frame to its feet.

‘D’you fancy a drink before calling it a night?’

At that moment Ed could think of nothing better than a cold glass of white wine, but she was determined to finish the job she’d set herself.

‘Sorry, Mike, I must finish this. I can’t face one more day with these abductions.’

‘Another time then. I’m off, see you tomorrow.’

Ed had just re-gathered her thoughts when the telephone rang. It was DI Saunders, calling from Maidstone.

‘Hi, Brian, what can I do for you?’

‘I’m calling to ask a favour.’

‘Hit me.’

‘We’ve just appointed a new DS.’

‘And?’

‘He’s sharp, but still a bit police school. I want him to start thinking laterally, outside the box. I was wondering if—’

‘Surely you can handle that?’

‘Yes … but I think you’d do a better job.’

‘What do you have in mind?’

‘If you could spend an hour with him, talk through the way you handled the serial abductions investigation.’

Ed thought for a moment and then decided to reward herself with a trip to Maidstone.

‘Okay … how about tomorrow? I could get over to you by nine.’

‘Give me five minutes. I’ll call you back.’

Twelve minutes later Ed’s phone rang. It was Brian.

‘First thing tomorrow’s not good for him. Is there any chance you could make it after eleven?’

‘Tell him I’ll be there at half past.’

‘Thanks, Ed, I’ll make sure he’s here waiting.’

‘By the way, what’s his name?’

‘It’s Dan, DS Daniel Wheadon. As I said, he’s not been with us long. It will be good for him to have a chat with you.’

‘No problem, but you owe me.’ Ed paused as her memories of previous visits to Maidstone came flooding back. ‘Remember those coffees you used to greet me with? It would be good if Dan did the same.’

‘Consider it done.’