Imposture (DI Gardener 6)

“There was no one else,” retorted Gardener.

“You could have let him do it,” said Briggs, pointing to Reilly.

“Are you kidding? There’s no telling what he’d have said.”

“You’re too hard on me,” said Reilly, “I speak the same language as you lot.”

“I don’t doubt it,” replied Gardener, “we’re just not quite sure on the order of the words.”

Briggs laughed and closed the policy book.

“Okay, keep me informed of everything that happens. I know I’m changing subjects now, any news on your missing person case?”

Gardener cringed. He hated not being able to solve a problem, or apprehend a guilty criminal, but he knew that it was simply impossible to catch everyone. It may even be one of those cold cases that he would keep in an office drawer and take with him to his grave.

“Nothing, I’m afraid. As you know, he disappeared one night four months ago, never to be seen again.”

“He’ll turn up,” said Reilly, “bad pennies always do.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Stewart,” said Briggs. “We can’t catch everyone. Someone is always going to slip the net; but he has a track record, doesn’t he? Maybe five years down the line he’ll show up somewhere with one of the travelling fairs and we might have our chance to nab him.”

“Maybe,” said Gardener, “but how many more women are going to suffer at his hands?”

“How many victims suffer every day in someone’s hands?” countered Briggs. “We’ll never apprehend them all, Stewart. But despite all that, never lose sight of the fact that you two do a bloody good job. You’re out there all weathers and your dedication to the job and your team is as good as anyone I’ve ever seen, so don’t beat yourselves up.”

It wasn’t very often Briggs gave out compliments so to hear that was music to Gardener’s ears.

Reilly jumped in quick, changing subjects again. “How was London? Anything important we need to know?”

“No,” sighed Briggs, placing his elbows on the desk and arching his hands, “usual stuff about police budget cuts, blaming it on anything but the truth–”

The phone cut short whatever Briggs was going to say. After three rings he answered.

“Briggs.” The DCI’s expression darkened. “Yes, he’s with me now.”

Briggs passed the phone to Gardener. “Who is it?” he asked.

“Williams, front desk.”

Gardener took the phone. “David?”

“Just taken a phone call, sir, something I think you should know about.”

Gardener’s adrenaline started to race. “Go on.”

“We have another body on Butts Court.”

Gardener’s heart sunk. His expression must have changed considerably because Briggs was mouthing the words “what’s wrong”.

“Where exactly is it?”

“Virtually the same place,” replied Williams.

“How can that be?” asked Gardener. “We had a police presence there all night.”

“I don’t know all the finer details, sir.”

“Who found it?”