The Puppet Show (Washington Poe)

Reid was a great cop with even better instincts. With them both feeling nervous about Price, someone should be thinking about what to do if things didn’t go the way Gamble wanted. Van Zyl had told him to stay on leave. He wondered if that were premature. Gamble might authorise some ancillary investigating. It would need to be done anyway and Poe wanted to keep moving.

‘There are two possibilities as far as I can see,’ Reid said. ‘Either Price is being set up by the real killer or—’

‘Or he is the real killer and he thinks he can beat it,’ Poe finished for him. ‘And if he thinks he can beat it, then we need to assume that he can beat it. Either way, I don’t think we’re finished.’

‘What are we going to do then?’

‘Something we should have done yesterday,’ Poe replied. ‘We’re going to pay Hilary Swift a visit.’

Reid looked worried. ‘I don’t know about that, Poe. We can’t question someone who may end up being a key prosecution witness. We should at least wait until Price has been interviewed.’

Poe stared at him.

Reid sighed. ‘I’ll call Gamble. It’s his investigation at the end of the day.’

He was right, of course. It was the SIO’s call, not his. ‘I’ll call him,’ Poe compromised.

‘Go ahead. He’ll tell you to piss off, though.’

Poe moved to the window to get a better signal and called Gamble. He must have been holding his mobile, as he answered immediately. ‘Sir, I know SCAS are no longer actively involved but DS Reid and I thought we’d go and speak to Hilary Swift.’

‘Why, for God’s sake?’

‘Background information. Tidy a couple of loose ends, that sort of thing. She might not have been there on the night but she probably knew Price was going to be there.’

‘Wait until we’ve spoken to Price, Poe. He’s in with his solicitor now trying to construct a deal.’

‘A deal?’

‘Yeah, can you believe it?’ he replied. ‘But he’s entitled to try, I suppose. We’ll listen to what he has to say, then the CPS will put him away for the rest of his life.’

‘Hopefully, sir,’ Poe said.

‘You’re not convinced, are you?’

‘Like you say, sir, we need to listen to what he says.’

‘Despite our differences, Poe, I know we wouldn’t have him without you,’ Gamble said.

Poe didn’t need his arse wiped; he needed permission to continue investigating. But he had to play the game.

‘Kind of you to say, sir, but all I did was come in with a fresh pair of eyes. You’d have got there in the end.’

‘Go and see her, then. But take Reid and you’re not to do it under caution. Background questions only. If there’s anything we can use against Price, I want to know immediately.’

Poe thanked him and returned to Reid and Bradshaw. ‘We’re on,’ he said.

Reid looked at him. ‘He said yes? You won’t be offended if I check?’

‘I will be offended if you check, but do it anyway.’

Reid waved him off. ‘I trust you, Poe.’ He looked at his watch. ‘We’d better have another brew before we set off. Neither of us will be fit to drive yet.’

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Reid drove. He said he didn’t want to be in the passenger seat feeling as rough as he did. Poe didn’t argue.

Despite the children’s home being sold years ago, a quick check of the electoral roll told them that Hilary Swift still lived in Seven Pines. Poe was surprised they found it. The satnav said they’d arrived when they were still three miles away – one of the joys of living in Cumbria – but Reid called Ambleside police station and got directions.