Need You Dead

94 Saturday 30 April

Grace liked Tim Weatherley instantly. The detective from the Scotland Yard Super Recognizer Unit arrived in his office shortly before 6 p.m., apologizing effusively for being so late, and looking like he’d already had a long day. He was dressed in a crumpled grey suit, a pink shirt and striped tie at half mast, and had untidy black hair. He reminded Grace of the TV comedian Michael McIntyre.

For some reason he had been expecting an intense, studious geek, but Weatherley, in his late thirties, was warm and open, with a booming voice.

‘I’ve got a message for you from Superintendent Sloan,’ he said.

‘Oh yes?’

‘He said to tell you that you still owe him a beer!’

Grace grinned. ‘That’s rich coming from him. Short arms, deep pockets.’

Weatherley grinned back.

‘Would you like tea? Coffee?’ Grace offered.

‘No, thanks, I’m fine. It’s actually my wedding anniversary and I have to take she-who-must-be-obeyed out to dinner in London — in Battersea — so without wanting to rush anything, the sooner I can get away, the better. How can I help you?’

Grace filled him in on the history and the sensitive nature of the issue. Then he added, ‘It has always been my method of operating to include my whole team. We have a briefing scheduled for 6.30 p.m. I’d like you to view the footage before the briefing, and then I’ll introduce you to the team so you can educate them on what resources are available. We might have an unknown talent with Super Recognizer abilities on this team. But what I would appreciate is that if you are able to make a positive ID on DS Exton when you initially see the footage, that you don’t mention it to the team.’

Weatherley frowned. ‘It’s your call.’ He shot a glance at his watch.

‘I’ll make sure you’re on your way by 7 p.m. You’ll be in Battersea by 8.30 p.m latest.’

‘Do you have some images of this DS Exton for me to get familiar with?’

Grace showed him a photocopy of Exton’s warrant card, and a series of images of him from the internal CCTV at Malling House. Then he took him out into the corridor to the board on the wall where there were photographs, with their names beneath, of all the members of the Major Crime Branch, and pointed out Exton.

As he was standing there his phone rang. It was Ray Packham.

‘Roy, some good news. I think you’re going to like this.’

‘Tell me?’

‘It’s drying out well — I’m standing here like a twat, with a hair-dryer! But in the meantime I’ve got a result from tracing the serial number. The computer was bought from the Apple store in Churchill Square in Brighton last November 22nd — by Lorna Belling.’

‘Bloody hell, that is brilliant, Ray, well done.’

‘Thought you’d like that. I’ll call you as soon as it’s up and running.’

‘Brilliant.’

As Weatherley studied the photographs of the team on the board, Guy Batchelor walked along the corridor. ‘Boss, just wanted to check the time of this evening’s briefing.’ Then he hesitated, looking at the visitor.

‘Oh, Guy — this is Tim Weatherley, from the Super Recognizer unit.’ He turned to Weatherley. ‘DI Batchelor is the Deputy SIO on this case, Tim. Feel free to share anything with him.’

The two men shook hands. ‘Nice to meet you,’ Weatherley said.

‘Likewise. Thanks for coming down, we really appreciate it,’ Batchelor said. ‘I’ve heard great things about your unit.’

‘Feel free to spread the word! Not enough forces know about us yet.’ Weatherley smiled warmly.

‘Absolutely!’ Batchelor said.

‘We’ve a development,’ Grace informed him. ‘Ray Packham’s just called me, he’s identified the owner of the Apple MacBook Pro.’

‘He has?’

‘Lorna Belling.’

‘Bloody hell.’

‘This could be dynamite for us!’ Grace said enthusiastically. ‘He hopes to have it up and running tonight.’

‘Fantastic,’ Batchelor said, but he looked uneasy.

Grace felt uneasy too. The thought of seeing Exton brought down and imprisoned for murder was not something any of them relished, and Batchelor, despite his tough appearance, had a deeply sensitive and caring side that Grace had noticed often in the past.

‘As DS Weatherley has to get away by 7 p.m., I thought we’d bring the briefing forward. Could you tell everyone we’ll have it in fifteen minutes’ time.’

‘Yes, boss. I’ll get right on it.’

‘Good man.’

Grace led Weatherley back into his office, and left him alone to watch the footage, before joining him in the briefing.