> She turned back to the room. ‘Right. Everyone know what they’re doing?’ There were nods as people packed up and split into twos and threes to start their assigned tasks.
‘Murdo, we’ll have a sit-down later.’ Shona lifted her bag and folder. ‘I’ve got a budgets meeting. Can you show DC Ridley out?’ She nodded to Dan. ‘Thank you for coming over.’ Then she was gone.
DC Ridley and DS O’Halloran made their way downstairs and stopped by the front desk.
‘What’s your guvnor in Carlisle like then?’ asked Murdo.
‘Likes the sound of his own voice, preferably as loud as possible,’ Dan replied, holding up the A4 folder. ‘Thinks this case should be filed under unexplained death and no arguments. Doesn’t hold with “fancy policing”. That’s anything introduced this century. You lot are getting off lightly. How’s your guv, then?’
Murdo grinned. ‘Let me tell you about DI Oliver. When she came up from London, she spent a couple of weeks with different sections, getting a feel for the area, how it differed from the city. She even did a day or two with Traffic, out on the streets, not sitting in an office. When she was with the Families Support Team, some low-life who goes by the name of Gringo – a six feet three inches pile of shite – had put his missus in hospital. DI Oliver and a young special constable went to get a statement. Gringo arrives, shouting the odds, and walloped the male special, who tried to stop him getting at his missus, still laid out in a hospital bed. Do you know what the boss did?’
‘Called for back-up? Talked him down?’
‘No. She picked up the constable’s baton and gave Gringo a hammering. Bastard was on his knees when security arrived. Threatened to complain about police brutality but dropped the idea quickety-quick when he realised he’d have to stand up in court and explain how Wee Shona had beat him up. He’d be a laughing stock. His pals would never let him forget it.’
Dan pursed his lips and nodded. ‘Impressive. Does she do martial arts training?’
Murdo’s eyes twinkled with amusement. ‘No, pal. Under that soccer mom exterior, she’s as hard as fuck. Grew up in the east end of Glasgow. So, remember, don’t get on the wrong side of her. No one gets off lightly with Wee Shona. She’ll take your head off your shoulders, possibly even literally.’ DS O’Halloran smiled and clapped Dan on the back. ‘But, no worries, eh? Nice well-behaved lad like you? You’ll be fine, won’t you?’
Dan nodded obediently. ‘What happened to the guy? Gringo?’
‘The lassie pressed charges, after seeing what the boss did.’ Murdo dropped his voice. ‘Probably shouldn’t say this, but Wee Shona’s actions did more good than a month of community policing. Domestic violence prosecutions have gone up. It’s like the women feel the police just might be on their side.’ He opened the front door for Dan and they shook hands again. ‘One last thing. Don’t ever tell her I called her Wee Shona.’
Chapter 4
The next morning, DCI Gavin Baird appeared on the Skype screen. ‘Shona. Thanks for your case list. Are you up to speed on Op Fortress?’
‘Yes, sir.’ The document he’d sent was thinner than she’d expected; Baird was playing this close to his chest. She’d scanned through the brief, noting how different their styles of policing were. She’d have made more use of Dumfries officers with local knowledge for the raids.
But she was already on her guard. Six months ago, DCI Baird had poached Vincent Greig, her visual investigations specialist, and Chloe Burke, one of her best information analysts. Shona had read the latest Operation Fortress document with the level of caution she would deploy for any suspicious package, one which might detonate without warning, removing members of her team and leaving her to deal with the aftermath.
Shona’s door opened a fraction and DS O’Halloran quietly slid a sheet of notes onto her desk before pulling the door closed again. A printout from the local news website, DnG24, was clipped to the top. The baby milk story had made the headlines.
‘We’ll need every officer available for the co-ordinated raids,’ Baird continued. ‘I mean to hit this county lines drug network hard across Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway. I’ll be briefing everyone myself early next week.’
‘It’s a big job – can we set up a meeting to discuss this in more detail, sir?’
‘Everything you need is in the document.’ He waved away her concern. ‘This is an excellent opportunity to exceed our targets and impact several local outcomes – anti-social behaviour, health and wellbeing.’
What happened to saving lives, locking up the bad guys, thought Shona. It was in there somewhere. But he was right, a big anti-drugs operation like this would cut crime at every level, from dealers’ turf wars to the petty thefts and burglaries that fuelled the addicts’ need for cash. The poverty and hopelessness would still be there waiting to bloom, though, in all its grotesque form. Addicts would not vanish. Supply and demand, the business of crime, would exploit these people in other forms. The multi-agency meeting she’d just come from was already primed for the expected surge in workload that Operation Fortress would generate; everything from child protection to drug rehab cases would increase. She hoped the agencies would cope, but they were already at full stretch. There was no magic money tree, as DCI Baird often reminded her, or reserve division of social workers to deploy.
‘This Jane Doe in the Solway Firth…’ Baird broke into her thoughts.
‘Female, early twenties. Potentially a Scottish link, via her jewellery. I’m circulating particulars and checking local missing persons for matches.’
‘I wasn’t looking for an update. You can forget this one. I need you on the baby milk thefts.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you’re a senior detective, and a crime that has a massive impact on the public and business communities has been committed.’
‘And a young woman has died…’
‘Yes, and it’s Cumbria’s problem, let them deal with it. From what I can see there’s no clear evidence it’s murder. Unexplained, yes. We don’t have the resources to progress a case with no ID and little chance of success.’ Baird’s attention was being drawn by someone else in his office. Shona knew she’d already eaten up her allocated slot in his day. His PA would be signalling a more important caller or some Divisional matter that he should be attending to.
‘Look.’ A flash of exasperation passed over Baird’s face, but he smiled, composing himself. ‘You’re an excellent detective inspector, and these thefts have caused a major impact on the retail businesses of the area. Now the press have got it. It’s trending on Mumsnet, for God’s sake. There’s gonna be flack if we don’t shut this down quickly. You’re right to highlight possible organised crime gang connections, but it’s currently just your area affected. I need my best officer on it if it’s not to spread.’
Shona recognised the casual attempt at flattery. They both saw it for what it was. He was ordering her to drop the body in the firth case but allowing her the fig leaf of self-esteem and himself the wiggle room to deny it, should there be any comeback. She wouldn’t play that game.