Free The Cedar Face: DI Jewell book 3 (DI Elizabeth Jewell) by Carole Pitt Page A

'Do you mean a suspect?'
    'Yes Inspector Jewell, we have a suspect. Why should that surprise you? Don't tell me, I know, because this has happened within twenty-four hours. Not a scenario you're familiar with.'
    'Less than twenty- four hours in this instance is surprising, Sir. May I ask who the suspect is?'
    Yeats tapped a key on his laptop then stood up. 'Listen. I'm willing to meet both of you halfway but you have to accept Daly ran a sloppy HQ and I want everything tightened up. He should have retired and left without tarnishing his service record. But he was too stubborn, let that be a lesson.'
    'Who's the suspect?' Elizabeth asked
    'A Canadian called Jacob Morven, here on an educational exchange to talk about First Nation culture. He arrived in the UK three weeks ago and is due to fly back to Vancouver next Wednesday. He's spent the time touring a few Gloucestershire schools. Yesterday was the Grasmere Academy's turn. According to a witness statement, he was the last person to see Keith Wilson alive. We have probable cause to warrant bringing him in for questioning. I'm expecting an email from Dr Oakley soon on the initial post mortem results. Until we have confirmation on the other forensics, I've got Morven under surveillance. If he decides to leave the country before Wednesday, we'll stop him.'
    Elizabeth gritted her teeth. 'I hope you don't mind me saying, but aren't you jumping the gun?'
    'Let me repeat, Morven, by all accounts was the last person to see the victim. What does that usually signify?'
    'We rule them out or rule them in,' Patterson said
    'Did you check for any criminal record?' Elizabeth asked.
    Yeats glowered and Elizabeth realised her mistake. A man with a history of dealing with terrorist attacks wouldn't overlook such basic procedure.
    'I phoned and spoke to a senior officer in his hometown. Morven' s a high profile political campaigner for the Nisga'a peoples. Two fines for minor offences, probably traffic. He's sending me the details.'
    'How did they take the news?'
    Yeats seemed reluctant to answer her question. 'Extremely surprised and talking about sending two of their officers over here.'
    He handed Elizabeth a folder. 'This is an interim report on common failures at Park Road. Study it carefully. I want a plan for implementing improvements by Monday. We'll look at the more serious statistics next week. My overall impression is that your team doesn't seem to understand the meaning of the word target. Maybe it's time you enlightened them.'
    Elizabeth knew it was pointless defending her position. ' I'll start on it tonight. I had plans for today.'
    He couldn't object and he knew it. If he'd hauled most of the squad in, she wouldn' t be needed.
    'As long as I see changes by the end of the month.'
    Elizabeth took a sideways glance Patterson. She wondered why he hadn't said anything else. She looked down at her feet encased in black suede court shoes. They weren't exactly stiletto heels and certainly not as lethal but would do the job. She inched closer to him, slid her foot towards his, and stood firmly on his toe.
    Patterson didn't even flinch, but he got the message. He leaned against the wall and wiped his hand over his eyes. 'I knew a few staff members at Grasmere. I didn't go there but loads of my mates did. Wilson was a nice bloke and it was a shock when I heard what happened. I hope you've got the right person.'
    'I'm not obliged to keep you up to date Sergeant if that's what you're after. Hasn't it sunk in that you're not on the case?'
    Elizabeth had had enough. 'Why did you ask Tony to come in just to humiliate him. You've given us our orders, so if that's all, I'm off back home.'
    She made for the door and Patterson followed. Yeats had remodelled Daly's office well but had overlooked the broken door hinge. She remembered slamming it on numerous occasions after they'd rowed. Looking back it was a miracle it hadn't fallen off long before now. Patterson went out first and Elizabeth grabbed