Free The Birdwatcher by William Shaw Page A

around the discovery site.’
    ‘Naturally. I’m sure Sergeant South can help you liaise with the Police Search Adviser on that. Anything else?’ Another big smile. ‘Good work, boys and girls. Good work. Anything you want to add, Chief Inspector?’
    The SIO said, ‘Everyone knows, last few years, there’s been a significant rise in homelessness round here and all the associated problems. Ruins our patch’s reputation. We need to stamp on this. Speed. Faster we act, the better our chances. And the quicker you all get home.’
    South walked McAdam to the front door of the house; the Chief Inspector was out there already, waiting in his car.
    At night, the nuclear plant was illuminated. Against the blackness of the Channel behind it, its orange lights were dazzling. ‘Extraordinary place,’ McAdam said. He paused at the door and turned to Cupidi.
    ‘Are you OK?’ he asked her.
    ‘Me, sir? Fine.’
    ‘Look Alexandra. I know you’re keen to make a good impression. Your first case here. Keen to get everything sorted in a few hours. One thing I’ve learned. Work with what you have. Don’t you worry. We’ll have it wrapped up in a couple of days.’
    ‘Very reassuring, sir.’
    ‘Certain of it.’ When he smiled back at her, South wasn’t sure if he was just ignoring the irony in her voice, or had missed it altogether.
    On the road, a few hundred yards away, a lone copper sat in his car, running the engine, interior lights on.
    To prevent anyone disturbing the scene, they had put up a tent over the spot where the fire had been. In the morning the Scene of Crime Officers would be back. For now, the one policeman would have to spend his shift sitting alone in his car, guarding the site.
    The Chief Inspector’s car sped past it, away home.
     
    ‘Say it,’ said South.
    ‘What?’ She looked up at him. The other police had gone now; their shift was over. Cupidi was sitting on his front step smoking a cigarette.
    ‘Say what you really think of DI McAdam.’
    ‘Did it show?’
    ‘Just a bit.’
    ‘Is he always so obsessed with his budget?’
    ‘I suppose he has to be. Besides. You should probably go home. Your daughter will be on her own.’
    The rain had passed over now. She stubbed out her cigarette on his stone step. ‘Don’t tell me how to be a parent, William, OK?’
    ‘I apologise.’
    She sighed. ‘Speed is everything. The more resources you throw at something like this in the first hours, the better the result. It’s always the same. The longer it takes, the harder it gets.’
    She moved over and he sat on the step next to her.
    ‘Are you OK?’ she asked. ‘Staying here? Your friend was killed just a hundred yards away.’
    South said, ‘I’ll be fine.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Tell you what. I haven’t had time to buy any supper. I was going to take Zoë out to a Nando’s. Would you like to come?’
    South blinked. ‘Well, that’s very nice of you. But . . .’
    For the first time that day, she laughed out loud. ‘I’m not trying to proposition you, William. I want to talk about the case, that’s all. I’m not used to just going home after a day like this. It feels ridiculous. And I don’t think you should be alone. You’ve had a rough day. Your friend was killed.’
    ‘What about your daughter? Don’t you need to talk to her in private?’
    ‘To be honest, she’d probably be grateful there’s someone there as well as me. It doesn’t have to be Nando’s. There’s a Pizza Hut there too. It’s very cosmopolitan.’
    Cupidi unplugged her laptop and got in her car to drive ahead to collect her daughter. South stayed behind, putting the mugs in the dishwasher and mopping the mud off the kitchen floor.
     
    The shopping complex sat beside the M20, north of the town. The Nando’s was one of half a dozen chain restaurants positioned around the car park of the huge multiplex.
    South got out of his elderly Micra and stood outside the restaurant. The air was