Silent Scream

Twenty-One

Despite the head start, Kim pulled into the car park a moment before Bryant. He parked beside her.

‘Go and get cleaned up. I’ll go see Woody.’ She started walking towards the entrance.

‘I’m more than happy with my own decisions so don’t ...’

‘I’ve got seven minutes to get to his office so hurry up.’

They sprinted up the stairs together and entered the office.

Dawson’s eyes widened. ‘Jeez, looks like you two had some kind of mud fight.’ He chuckled. ‘I’d like to have seen that. My money would have been on the Guv.’

Bryant sat down. ‘Hell, Dawson, any smart money would have been on the Guv.’

‘There are bones,’ Kim said, removing her jacket. She ran her fingers through her hair. ‘Bryant will fill you in.’

She headed to the door.

‘Guv,’ Bryant said, stopping her. ‘Tell him the truth.’

‘Of course,’ she replied and headed to the stairs.

By her reckoning she had a minute and a half left by the time she knocked on his door. She waited until he called before entering. It wasn’t going to help if she infuriated her boss any further.

She took the four steps to the chair and noted that the stress ball remained on the desk. Okay, now she was in trouble.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing, Stone?’

‘Err ... could you be more specific?’ she asked. She would hate to be apologising for the wrong thing.

‘Don’t play games with me. The antics of you and Bryant could seriously jeopardise ...’

‘Not Bryant, Sir. He just watched.’

Woody glared at her. ‘I’ve got someone who saw him in the hole.’

‘And I’ve got the four people closest to the hole who say he wasn’t.’

‘And what would Bryant say?’

Kim swallowed. They both knew the answer to that.

‘Sir, I’m sorry for what I did. I know it was wrong and I would like to sincerely ...’

‘Spare me the speech. It is nauseating and won’t do you any good.’

He was right. Kim wasn’t sorry at all. ‘How did you know?’

‘Not that it’s any of your business but Doctor Matthews—’

‘Yeah, I should have known that he ... ’

‘ ... was absolutely right to call me,’ Woody said, raising his voice over hers. ‘What the hell did you think you were doing?’

‘Sir, I had to get started. My gut said there was a body down there and the idea of waiting for the correct paperwork to come through was ridiculous.’

‘Ridiculous or not, there are reasons why we have procedures to follow, not least so that in a court of law we can defend our actions at all times. You would be well served to remember that my instructions are not optional.’

‘I understand.’

He sighed heavily. ‘The only thing saving your skin right now is that your gut was right and the focus will now change to damage limitation.’

Kim nodded.

‘However, at this point I am no longer convinced that you are the right person to lead this investigation.’

She sat forward. ‘But, Sir, you can’t ...’

‘Oh yes I can and at the moment I am seriously considering your removal from this case.’

Kim closed her mouth for a second. Her next words would be important. She decided on total honesty.

Her voice was low. ‘Sir, you’ve seen my file. You’re aware of my past, so you have to know there is no one better to head this case.’

‘That’s as maybe but I need to rely on someone who can follow instructions. If the bones found today are those of a child within the care of social services this case will explode in the media. There will be many individuals trying to distance themselves and I will not give anyone a legal loophole caused by a member of my own team.’

Kim knew he was right. But she also knew she was the right person for the job.

‘Now, I suggest you and Bryant get off home and clean yourselves up. You’ll have my decision in the morning.’

Kim knew when she was being dismissed and she counted her lucky stars that she’d escaped a full disciplinary.

‘You know, Kim ...’ he said as she reached the door. Damn, she hated it when Woody called her by her first name.

She turned.

He removed his glasses and met her gaze. ‘One of these times your gut is going to be wrong and you will have to face the consequences and that is your choice. But you need to consider those around you. Your team has great respect for you and will follow you into any situation to protect you and gain your approval.’

Kim swallowed. She knew he was talking about one team member in particular.

‘And when the day comes that your reckless actions endanger the career or even the life of those around you, it won’t be me or even the police force to which you will have to answer.’

Kim felt the rising nausea that had nothing to do with an empty stomach; as she closed the door behind her she found herself wishing for the disciplinary.

The one thing about Woody was that he sure knew how to hit her where it hurt.