Imposition (DI Gardener 5)

“Stop playing games, Manny, or you’ll be here for a very long time,” said Reilly.

“The travel agent,” offered Gardener.

“Oh, that,” replied Manny. “It was just a misunderstanding.”

“Is that what you call it?”

“What would you call it?”

“We’re not here to answer your questions, sunshine,” Reilly said.

“Forgive me,” said Gardener. “I’m a little old fashioned. I have it down as theft.”

“No, no, officer, you’ve got me all wr

ong. Like I said, it was a misunderstanding.”

“Take us through it.”

Manny grew quiet. Gardener could almost hear the cogs whirring. “Well, I was there on business.”

“What business?”

“I was checking her fire extinguishers.”

“Are you qualified?”

“I was subcontracting.”

“For who?”

“I forget now, but my mate knows.”

“Name?”

“Whose name?”

“Your mate.”

Manny put his hands on his head. “I think it was Graeme Sharp Electrical.”

“Strange,” said Gardener, “him being a mate of yours and you’re not sure about his name.”

“It’ll be Stitch,” said Reilly.

Manny’s face dropped.

“So,” said Gardener, writing in his pad, “we have our first charge, impersonating a fire officer. Go on.”

“No, no, it was all kosher. I showed her my warrant card.”

“Warrant card?” said Reilly. “So you were impersonating a police officer as well?”

“No,” shouted Manny, “I didn’t mean warrant card, you know what I meant.”

“Not sure we do, old son, but we know why you were there.”

“Stop wasting our time,” said Gardener. “You went into the back and you did not check the fire extinguishers, you set about stealing anything you could find.”