Love You Dead

94 Thursday 12 March

As Roy Grace sat back down in his office, he was in a quandary. Was he exposing Norman to too much danger?

But if he pulled him from the operation, without doubt someone else would be in danger. The black widow’s next victim. If they got it right, Potting would lead them to this woman, and they could keep a visual on him and protect him. But he needed that protection.

Grace phoned his ACC and updated him on the latest information, and his concerns.

‘Roy,’ Pewe replied after some moments, ‘you’re the SIO on this case, and you have to make the decisions here, including the cost implications — so long as you continue to be the SIO.’

As he ended the call, Grace was fuming again. So long as you continue to be the SIO. Great, he thought. Yeah, right. If it all worked out well, ACC Pewe would take the credit. And if it all went tits up, Pewe would be dumping the blame squarely at his feet and using it as the excuse he dearly sought to ease him out.

And he knew exactly what Pewe would be thinking at this moment.

Please, God, have Roy Grace screw up.

What was crucial now was connecting Norman Potting with Jodie. That needed very careful handling of the local media. Any inkling that J. Paul Cornel was a set-up and it was game over for that plan.

But he had to admit to himself, with a wry smile, good old Norman, with a makeover including teeth whitening, made a very convincing elderly billionaire.

Would she take the bait? That was something he would be discussing in detail with Detective Superintendent Nick Sloan, the Force Authorizing Officer, who was managing the operation.

But, more importantly, how did he protect Potting?