Free The Unquiet Grave by Steven Dunne Page A

Stapleton.
    As Brook didn’t know the answer he decided not to start his first day back with a lie. ‘I can’t discuss that.’
    ‘Is this about Scott Wheeler?’ asked Mrs Stapleton.
    ‘As I said—’
    ‘You’re that DI Brook. You were on the telly in the summer,’ said Stapleton. ‘About those students who disappeared.’
    Brook smiled faintly. He’d never got used to the recognition his job sometimes afforded him. ‘Yes.’
    ‘Are you responsible for us being here?’ demanded Stapleton.
    ‘No.’
    ‘Then who is? And how long will we be here?’
    Brook shrugged. ‘It’s not my case, Mr Stapleton, but not long, I hope.’
    ‘Then why are you here?’
    ‘This is about Scott Wheeler, isn’t it?’ insinuated Stapleton’s wife, trying to stand.
    Her husband pushed her back down and sat himself. ‘Easy, Jen.’
    ‘Again, I don’t know,’ replied Brook truthfully, beginning to wish he hadn’t intruded.
    Appearing not to hear Brook, Stapleton said, ‘Whatever I said, I said it in the heat of the moment. It was months ago, for Christ’s sake. I wouldn’t hurt Scott, no matter how badly he let down our son.’
    ‘Don’t give them the satisfaction, Greg.’ Mrs Stapleton glared up at Brook. ‘This is typical. We’ve had to listen to the world and his wife singing the praises of that nasty little shit the last four days. He disappears and suddenly everyone thinks he’s an angel. Well, he isn’t.’ Present tense, Brook noted. ‘Scott Wheeler is a foul-mouthed little thug and if we’d known what he was like before Joshua befriended him. . .’ she sighed heavily at the floor and looked to her husband for support.
    Stapleton tightened his jaw and looked Brook full in the face. ‘We’ve lost everything, Inspector. Our boy is dead because Scott Wheeler abandoned him that night. Yes, I had some harsh words to say to Scott and his mother and I wish I hadn’t said them. But that’s all they were – words. We were devastated—’
    ‘Greg could never hurt a child,’ interrupted his wife. ‘Not even Scott Wheeler.’
    ‘And we certainly don’t know where he is or what happened to him.’ Stapleton stared defiantly at Brook. ‘Though I won’t shed any tears if. . .’ he halted, suddenly ashamed.
    ‘Your son’s killer was tried and convicted, Mr Stapleton,’ said Brook. ‘No matter how difficult, isn’t it time to move on?’
    ‘But it was Scott who put Josh in harm’s way,’ spat Stapleton’s wife, on the verge of tears. ‘That doesn’t mean. . .’
    ‘I understand,’ said Brook softly, when she couldn’t continue. ‘How about I get you a hot drink while I hurry up DS Noble?’
    Brook opened the door of his outer office and put his flask and laptop on a chair. Noble was on the phone but still managed to wave a greeting which Brook acknowledged. He’d missed Noble. Not enough to invite him out to the cottage for a drink. Not enough to arrange to meet in one of the city centre bars Noble frequented. But he’d missed him nonetheless.
    When Noble’s phone conversation was over, he stood to give Brook a lingering examination and threw in an awkward handshake for good measure.
    ‘You’re early.’
    ‘You were expecting me?’ remarked Brook.
    ‘I’ve been counting the days.’ Noble grinned. ‘Seen anyone else?’
    Brook lowered his eyes. ‘Sergeant Hendrickson was on the desk.’
    ‘But you scuttled past him so he wouldn’t see you.’
    Brook didn’t answer.
    ‘And that’s why you’re in so early,’ added Noble, with sudden realisation. ‘Avoiding people.’ He shook his head. ‘Honestly, you were making such good progress before you. . .’ he tailed off.
    ‘Before I disgraced the force,’ finished Brook, remembering the Chief Superintendent’s phrase from the summer.
    Noble laughed. ‘The force will get over it.’
    ‘I dare say,’ agreed Brook. ‘But will I?’
    ‘You’re a DI,’ said Noble. ‘You shouldn’t be worrying what clapped-out desk sergeants