Free The TV Detective by Simon Hall

‘That’s the way I like it. You don’t solve crimes on the phone, or at a terminal. You have to get out there and do it.’
    The MIR was the size of a large classroom, one wall facing out onto Plymouth city centre and the shell of Charles Church, largely destroyed in the Blitz, now standing as a memorial to those eternal wartime sacrifices. A line of felt boards stood opposite, a picture of Edward Bray in the middle.
    Adam noticed Dan staring. ‘I know what you’re thinking,’ he said. ‘Aren’t they a bit outdated in these days of computers doing everything? Well, two points. First I like the team to have a picture of the crime they’re trying to solve in front of them, and that means looking the victim in the eye. It keeps everyone focused. Secondly, those boards will set out the web of connections between all the people involved in the case. And seeing those can often give you the key to the crime.’
    Already there were pieces of card with names printed on clustered around the photo. Dan took a step forwardsand squinted to look, but Adam coughed pointedly.
    â€˜Let me give you a little warning,’ he said.
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜All Wessex Tonight broadcasts are now being recorded and monitored. Every word you say, and exactly how you say it will be scrutinised. Each vowel, and every consonant. One hint of anything being aired which I haven’t approved, one step out of line and …’
    Adam didn’t need to finish the sentence. But, helpfully, Suzanne decided she did.
    â€˜We didn’t want you, let me make that very clear. We were told by our senior officers you were joining us. We didn’t have a say and we’re not exactly happy about it. You’re here on trust, apparently. Which is ironic, given that you’re a journalist.’
    â€˜Hey, come on,’ Dan protested. ‘Give a guy a chance.’
    â€˜We have. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here at all.’
    â€˜I could be useful you know,’ Dan bridled. ‘I’m not daft. I could help with handling the media, offer a different perspective on the investigation.’
    The resulting silence was loaded with so much disbelief that a snow plough would have struggled to shift it.
    â€˜Well, thanks for making me feel so welcome,’ Dan said finally.
    â€˜My pleasure,’ Suzanne replied.
    Adam held up his hands. ‘OK, now we all know where we stand, let’s get on with the job. So,’ he said to Dan, ‘To start off with, do you want to hear the voice of the killer?’
    They stood either side of Suzanne while she clicked open a file on her computer. A waveform began dancing on the screen.
    From the speakers came, ‘Hello, emergency operator, which service do you require?’
    There was a pause, the hiss of the phone line, then a male voice, heavily muffled. ‘Man’s body. Lay-by. Three miles east of Plymouth.’
    There was another second’s crackling of static, then the whine of the disconnection tone.
    â€˜So, what do you make of that?’ Adam asked.
    â€˜Me?’ Dan replied.
    â€˜Yes, you. Come on. You’re here to learn about police work. Start thinking like a detective.’
    â€˜Well – what time was the call made?’
    â€˜5.58. Just a couple of minutes after Bray got to the lay-by, we think.’
    â€˜So only seconds after he was shot?’
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜Which means it could be the killer.’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Or an accomplice.’
    Adam nodded. ‘Yes. Good.’
    â€˜So the key question is …’
    â€˜Yes?’
    Dan took a second to think. ‘If he, or she, or they have just killed Bray, why bother to phone it in?’
    â€˜Indeed. And the answer is?’
    Dan scratched at his back. The shirt was itching unpleasantly. ‘An attack of conscience?’
    Suzanne let out a contemptuous snort. ‘What, a few seconds after murdering him? In