The Hawk Is Dead - читать бесплатно онлайн полную версию книги автора Peter James (92) #82

92

Wednesday 29 November 2023

The media briefing at 11 a.m. went fine. Grace had informed Nigel Downing in advance that he felt close to a breakthrough, and the ACC had encouraged him to fully update the press with any information he could.

He’d barely sat back down in his office, when the first headline appeared, in the online Argus.

BREAKTHROUGH IN ROYAL MURDER PLOT IMMINENT

It was followed in minutes by similar but even more sensational headlines around the nation and the globe.

Der Bund’s online edition boldly proclaimed:

ARREST OF QUEEN’S ASSASSIN IMMINENT!

But Grace wasn’t smiling. His entire concentration was on the conversation he’d had earlier this morning with Sir Tommy Magellan-Lacey. There were two emails from the Master in his inbox.

The first said:

Roy, I’ve just spoken to Lorraine McKnight — Rose Cadoret’s boss. Apparently Rose fell off her bike and has been sent by the Palace doctor for a chest X-ray for possible broken ribs. She’ll be back at work tomorrow — likely to be in the Indian Room here at Buckingham Palace. But I’ll confirm as soon as I know. I’ve also asked that Rose show you the box of Granny’s Personal Chips.

The second said:

Attached is a scan of the duty roster for the Royal Protection team for Clarence House, Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace for Monday Nov 20th. As you can see, in answer to your very astute query about Royal Protection Officer Constable Jon Smoke, he was on duty at Buckingham Palace from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Grace immediately opened the attachment. It showed, as Sir Tommy said, the duty roster for that day, and the shift hours of the Royal Protection Officers.

He focused on Jon Smoke’s. Then zoomed in on it. And then zoomed in again.

Was it his imagination, or was the background a faintly different colour to the other names on the roster?

He tried to zoom further in, but the name and background became increasingly blurred.

He thought for a moment, then typed an email to James Stather at the Surrey and Sussex Police Forensic Recovery Unit.

James, hope all’s good. I’ve been sent this roster via email, showing Royal Protection Officers on duty on Monday Nov 20th — when Sir Peregrine Greaves, Private Secretary to Their Majesties, The King and Queen, was shot. I’m particularly interested in one of the names on this roster, Jon Smoke. I have a feeling, from trying to zoom in on it, that it may have been tampered with — by which I mean it is a false entry. I know you have highly sophisticated kit — could you, as a matter of extreme urgency, have your Imaging team run this through to see if they can tell whether the entire roster looks genuine or it if has been tampered with? Call me if you want any further information. In the meantime, I will obtain the original document. Best, Roy Grace.

Then he sent it.

93

Wednesday 29 November 2023

Grace, fed up with endless supermarket sandwiches, had started making himself a healthy lunch box. At a quarter past one, he popped open the lid and peered at the contents. A tuna, cucumber, tomato and avocado salad in one compartment, cottage cheese in another, a slice of buttered wholemeal sourdough in the third. In the fourth he found two Lindor chocolates — his guilty pleasure — added, without him knowing, by Cleo.

He smiled. It was the first time he had smiled in a while, he realized. And there was very little to smile about right now, as he read the email James Stather had just sent him. A little over an hour after his request to the Forensics expert.

Roy, the Imaging team have had a good look at this. Can’t say for sure — not enough to stand up in a court of law — but it looks to them as if there’s been some surreptitious editing going on. Of course if they had the original, they would be able to tell with more certainty.

Grace replied to Stather that he should have the original tomorrow and thanked him. No sooner had he done that when an email from Sir Tommy pinged in. It confirmed that Rose Cadoret would be working on the restoration of the contents of the Indian Room all tomorrow. He also confirmed that Lorraine McKnight would be available to speak to Roy’s team. He might be tied up himself in meetings with the damned building contractors, but the Deputy Master, Matthew Corbin, would give him all the help he might need. It would be helpful if Roy could give him an ETA.

Grace thought about that long and hard before composing his reply.

Sir Tommy, there appears to be a possible anomaly with the copy of the rota you sent me. I need to see the original, not a photocopy or facsimile — who would I obtain that from? I will aim to come in to see Rose Cadoret at approximately 11 a.m. tomorrow — will be arriving by road.

The Master replied almost immediately.

I will inform Deputy Master Matthew Corbin and Rose Cadoret to expect you for 11 a.m. tomorrow. If you arrive at the front gates, the guards will notify Matthew who will come out to meet you. He will direct you to a parking area and will then take you to Rose. Meantime, I’ll arrange for her to have the original roster for Monday Nov 20th, which she will give you. Their Majesties would appreciate an update from you, but unfortunately they’re not in London tomorrow — but perhaps we can set something up soon? All best and apologies if I don’t see you personally tomorrow, but call me if you need anything. Tommy.

Grace typed back a brief thank-you.