Free A Dog's Life (The Romney and Marsh Files Book 4) by Oliver Tidy Page B

CID and that means you must be reachable every minute of every day.’
    ‘As I said to you on the phone, ma’am, there are a number of communications black spots in the town. Something to do with the cliffs, I understand. Until the phone companies sort out their network coverage there’s not a lot I can do about it. Sorry.’
    Boudicca wiped the smile off his face. ‘Do I need to spell it out for you, Inspector? Bernard Stark is dead. Bernard Stark was preparing to make allegations of corruption and coercion against Dover CID. Against you. Very serious, career-threatening, custodial sentence kinds of allegations. Some people might think that with those sorts of stakes a desperate officer might be tempted to resort to desperate measures.’
    Romney was incredulous. ‘You’re accusing me of killing him?’
    ‘Of course not, man,’ said Boudicca. ‘I’m merely pointing out to you that you may have to satisfactorily account for your movements this afternoon.’
    Romney stared back at her in silence before finally saying, ‘I’ve told you what I was doing. Anyone who wants to question me over involvement in the death of Bernie Stark had better bring their lawyers with them.’
    She couldn’t say much more without risking accusations and, maybe because it was Friday afternoon, she didn’t want to.
    With Boudicca gone, Romney stepped out of the meeting room. Grimes let out a deep breath. ‘That could have gone worse, gov.’
    Romney was still smiling. Like the schoolboy who got away with something. ‘Couldn’t it just.’
    Encouraged by his senior’s obvious good spirits, Grimes felt emboldened to say, ‘The builders got in touch about timescales for the work they’ve got to do.’
    ‘Oh yeah. Soon be finished will they?’
     
    *
     
    When Marsh returned to CID Grimes was at his desk and Romney was shut away in his office.
    ‘You all right, now, Sarge?’
    ‘Is it that obvious?’ Grimes nodded and smiled sympathetically. She slumped down in her chair. ‘No. Not really.’
    ‘Want to talk about it?’
    Marsh gave Grimes the raised eyebrows look and then said wearily, ‘My mum’s not well. That’s all. I only found out today. Got a call from my sister. It threw me for a bit. She had a heart attack.’
    ‘What the hell are you still doing here then? You should go to her.’
    Marsh blew out her cheeks. ‘After the new super’s little chat this morning about absenteeism, and workforce reduction?’
    ‘She’s your mum. How bad is it?’
    ‘I don’t know. My sister’s not answering her mobile. I’ll go up tonight after we knock off.’
    ‘Gov’nor won’t mind you sloping off early.’
    ‘Don’t you even mention it to him.’
    Romney came out of his office and Marsh let Grimes know with a look to shut up about it. Grimes’ phone rang.
    ‘Well?’ said Romney, staring at Marsh expectantly.
    ‘Mr Gurung gave me a good statement. Good descriptions of the men. Body’s been removed and uniform are in charge of the scene until everyone’s finished.’
    Romney grunted, satisfied. ‘We’re off it. Boudicca’s orders. She didn’t really have much choice. I’m not sorry. Did I mention Dover Athletic are playing in the cup tomorrow?’
    ‘Yes, sir. You did.’ And to Marsh the fixture was beginning to sound like a convenience.
    Romney wanted to say something to Marsh about her behaviour earlier but Grimes finished on the phone and said, ‘That Range Rover I saw near The Eight Bells is registered to one Billy Savage. Jimmy Savage’s boy, in case you don’t remember. He’s nineteen.’
    Romney sat down and allowed a contented smile to spread across his features. ‘Is that right?’
    ‘Hang on,’ said Marsh, ‘I thought we weren’t on this any more.’
    ‘We’re not. It’s just the answer to an earlier thread of enquiry. No harm in hearing him out.’
    Grimes said, ‘And there’s another thing. When I was talking to Bernie in the Bells, I’m sure he said something about Jimmy’s boy