Eeny Meeny

88

Whittaker eyeballed Helen. Neither was speaking – Anti-Corruption were formally laying out the accusations – but Helen felt she was being interrogated nevertheless. Whittaker’s glare bore into her skull as if he was trying to divine her thoughts.

‘I must say I’m surprised at you, Helen. I thought you had more sense than this.’

DS Lethbridge from Anti-Corruption came to an abrupt halt, surprised by the sudden interruption.

‘I thought we’d cleared this matter up,’ Whittaker continued, ‘and now I find it landing on my doorstep. I don’t have to remind you that there is an active investigation going on that should have your full attention.’

Helen refused to drop her gaze, refused to be intimidated. Lethbridge started up again but Whittaker just talked over him.

‘I can only assume that this is about ambition. Perhaps you felt that you weren’t moving up the ladder quick enough. Perhaps me promoting you to be the youngest female DI this nick’s ever had wasn’t sufficient reward. But let me tell you something – maliciously stabbing senior officers in the back is not the way to get ahead. As you’re about to discover.’

He never took his eyes off her. Helen broke the stare first – a pang of conscience, guilt – though why she should be feeling guilty was beyond her. This was classic Whittaker – reminding her of what she owed him, whilst delivering a veiled threat. He was adept at not crossing the line, whilst nevertheless intimidating and neutralizing anyone who threatened his position. It was true that Whittaker had ‘spotted’ her, plucked her out as a promising DC and helped her slide up the promotion chain all the way to Inspector. And then she had turned on him. But what he had done was so bad – not just his relationship with Mickery and his leaking of crucial information, but his scapegoating of Mark and Simon Ashworth – that in reality she should feel nothing but contempt.

Helen was glad when the interview concluded after only twenty minutes. They would have to reconvene with Whittaker’s police representative and lawyer and Helen would be excluded from the process from now on. Whittaker predictably had said little, denying all the charges. Would he crack?

There was simply too much smoke for there not to be a fire. Charlie seemed innocent. Hand on heart, Mark had put up a convincing case too. And Simon Ashworth had been so compelling in his account. It all pointed to Whittaker’s guilt. But Helen knew that senior officers were very seldom hung out to dry publicly. And it was even less likely in this case, as the investigation that he had compromised was so sensational. These corruption cases tended to drag on behind very closed doors for months, even years. And what was the betting that at the end of it he would be pensioned off without any real censure or punishment. Helen hated the realpolitik of it all.

The process would take time to play out but two things were immediately apparent. First, that Helen would take over Whittaker’s role in an acting capacity. And second that she wanted Mark back on the team.

Helen took a deep breath and rang his bell. This wasn’t going to be easy, but there was no time for hesitation. Charlie was still chasing down Louise Tanner, there was no sign of Stephanie Bines and they were no closer to ending this nightmare. She needed all her best people round her.

‘Come on, come on,’ Helen muttered, as she listened for signs of life. A minute ticked by. Then another. She was about to cut her losses and go, when she heard someone fumbling with the lock. She turned, just as the door swung open to reveal Mark. Or what was left of him at least.

He was a sorry sight. Unshaven, red-eyed and unsteady on his feet. A daytime drinker with nothing – or no one – to make him stop. He was wearing a tracksuit, but exercise was not on the cards. He had shut down. Helen felt a pang of regret. She had offered to save Mark, then driven him to the bottle once more. He stared at her with a mixture of surprise and contempt, so Helen jumped straight in:

‘Mark, we’ve been through too much together for me to beat around the bush or try and dress things up, so I’m just going to say it straight. I know that you are innocent of everything I threw at you. I know I fucked up big time. And I want you back on the team straight away. If you don’t have the energy or can’t face being in the same room as me, I would understand, but I want to find a way to get you back in – you’re too talented a copper to be thrown on the scrapheap. I was wrong. But I’ve nailed the right guy now and I want to make amends.’

A long silence. Mark looked stunned. Then:

‘Who?’

‘Whittaker.’

Mark whistled, then laughed. He was incredulous.

‘We don’t know yet if it was a financial relationship with Mickery or a romantic one, but I’m totally convinced it was him. He lied about his alibi, pressured other officers to lie… it’s a big mess.’

‘So who’s taking over?’

‘I am.’

‘Well, congratulations.’

He had been polite until now, but the first hints of sarcasm were creeping in.

‘I know I upset you, Mark. I know I betrayed our… friendship. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I did it all for the right reasons. I just got it wrong. Badly, badly wrong.’

She drew breath then carried straight on.

‘But things have developed and I need you back. I know now that the killer is motivated by a personal hatred of me. We’re getting closer, Mark, but I need your help to get me over the line.’

She swiftly explained the situation – the victims, the commendations. Mark took it all in, passively at first but then slowly he ventured questions, becoming more and more engaged in the narrative. The old instincts were awakening, Helen thought to herself.

‘Have you told the rest of the team? That I’m innocent,’ Mark fired back, wresting the initiative from Helen.

‘Charlie knows, I’ll tell the others later today.’

‘That’s the very minimum that has to happen before I will even think about what you’ve said today.’

‘Of course.’

‘And I want you to apologize. I know you’re not very good at tha-’

‘I’m sorry, Mark. Truly, truly sorry. I should never have doubted you. I should have listened to my instincts. But I didn’t.’

Mark stared at her, surprised by the comprehensive nature of her apology.

‘I know I drove you to this, but I want to make amends. Clean yourself up and help us catch her. Please.’

He wouldn’t commit there and then. Helen knew he wouldn’t, though there was a part of her that was hoping he might. Instant forgiveness is always desirable, if not very probable. So she left him pondering and got back on the job. Had she left it too late to repair the damage? Time would tell.