Left You Dead

113

Roy Grace was surprised — although not that surprised, knowing his friend’s resilience — to see Glenn Branson, his eyes red and his face lacerated, with three sticking plasters across his cheeks and forehead, entering the conference room for the 5 p.m. briefing.

But he was even more surprised to be given an enthusiastic round of applause by the entire assembled group.

Blushing and grinning, he took a seat, putting his briefing notes and Policy Book on the table and raising his arms in a gesture of thanks.

‘You are all looking at a hero!’ Glenn Branson said. ‘He saved my life last night — even if the bugger did trash my suit in the process!’

‘I’m sure we can get you a new one out of police funds,’ Grace replied with a smile and a wink.

‘Not when they find out it came from Gresham Blake. Proper expensive.’

‘Are you going to keep whinging?’ Grace asked mischievously.

‘Nah, I’ll get over it.’

DS Alexander raised a hand. ‘Sir, we have a major update.’

‘Yes?’ Grace asked.

‘I’ve just heard from the interviewing officers and Eden is, surprisingly, cooperating fully with them and telling the whole story.’

‘Nice work,’ Grace said, relieved that at least one of Cassian Pewe’s gripes was now nixed.

Grace turned to the Crime Scene Manager. ‘Chris, as Eden Paternoster is under arrest, I’d like you and Lorna to take Search and Forensics Teams to Woodbury Cottage, Chiddingly, and see what you can find.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Gee said.

Emma-Jane Boutwood raised a hand. ‘Sir, there is one other small thing that’s come up.’

‘Which is, EJ?’

‘The Paternosters’ Burmese cat, Reggie,’ she said.

There were a few smiles.

‘Has that changed its name, too, EJ?’ Grace asked facetiously. ‘And its hairstyle?’

Several members of the team laughed.

The DC smiled. ‘No, sir. But since Niall Paternoster was arrested, their next-door neighbour has been looking after it, popping in every day to feed it — she has a key. But she phoned earlier this afternoon concerned, because she’s off to Cornwall on Monday to stay with her daughter and her family for the next month. So we need someone to take care of it — unless Eden is going to get police bail and return to the house, perhaps?’

‘That’s not going to happen,’ Grace said. ‘With the charges she’s facing, and her behaviour to date, she’s a flight risk. I think she’s going to be remanded in custody.’

‘In which case,’ EJ asked, ‘how are we going to look after the cat — another neighbour, perhaps? It’s quite a docile creature. If not, we’ll get it taken to a sanctuary — Raystede or somewhere like that.’

Grace knew that Cleo would jump at the chance of having a cat, she had been talking seriously about getting one only recently when she’d seen rodent droppings in their utility room — and mentioned that a bag of Humphrey’s biscuits had been gnawed open. ‘I might be able to help out, EJ,’ he said. ‘I know it’s not correct procedure, but I’ll speak to my wife and get back to you. I just need to ask her how she thinks our dog would get on with a cat.’

‘Thank you, sir.’