A Man of Sorrows Read Online Free PDF Page B

haven’t really been through anything like this before,’ he said, ‘but I think it’s very unlikely that you have got much to worry about.’
    She looked at him doubtfully.
    ‘Your career is clearly on an upward path,’ he continued. ‘They will definitely want to keep you.’
    ‘What about you?’
    That’s a different equation altogether , he thought dolefully. ‘Basically,’ he said, pointing at the email, ‘the Federation are saying, if you get anything from HR, do nothing without talking to them first.’
    Roche folded the sheet of A4 and folded it again before stuffing it into the back pocket of her jeans. ‘Thanks.’
    ‘It’s nothing. The important thing is not to worry about it. Just be aware of what the Federation are saying.’
    ‘Makes sense,’ she nodded, flopping into a nearby chair.
    ‘So,’ said Carlyle, as he sat back down at his desk, ‘McGowan’s lawyer. What’s she like?’
    Roche stuck a hand into the front pocket of her jeans and pulled out Abigail Slater’s business card. ‘She comes across as your bog standard corporate bitch,’ she said, reaching forward and tossing the card onto Carlyle’s desk.
    Picking up the card, Carlyle laughed. ‘Alpha female, you mean?’
    ‘Whatever.’ Roche sighed. ‘They’re ten a penny these days. All they do is show that, given the chance, women can be just as rubbish as men.’
    Carlyle chuckled. ‘You liked her then?’
    Roche shot him a frosty look. ‘She and the priest certainly made an odd couple. I need to see what I can find out about the Catholic Legal Network but, basically, she just seems like your average smug lawyer with God on her side.’
    ‘And McGowan?’
    ‘Father McGowan,’ Roche glanced around the room and lowered her voice, ‘looks like he’s in reasonable shape, given you tried to beat the crap out of him not so long ago.’
    ‘I didn’t beat the crap out of him.’ Carlyle wagged an admonishing finger at his sergeant. ‘It was just a bit of role play to help him forget about the circumstances of his arrest.’
    ‘Whatever,’ Roche said, yawning. ‘Anyway, I’m sure Weber will be able to write it up the right way and then basically it will be a case of our word against his.’
    ‘Two upstanding police officers versus a bent priest.’
    ‘Exactly,’ Roche said. ‘I think it’ll be fine.’
    The phone on Carlyle’s desk started ringing. The inspector hesitated. On the one hand, he wanted to go home. This would be the first time he’d managed to have dinner with his wife and daughter in almost a week. On the other hand, getting one over on the pervert priest had given him a smidgeon of job satisfaction for the first time in a while. He picked up the phone on the sixth ring.
    ‘Carlyle.’
    ‘Inspector, it’s Kevin Price downstairs.’
    ‘Yes?’ Carlyle’s bonhomie, which rarely if ever extended to the front desk, evaporated. He looked at Roche warily.
    ‘We’ve reports of shots fired at a jewellery store on New Bond Street,’ said the desk sergeant matter-of-factly. ‘Uniforms have left already.’
    ‘Okay.’ Carlyle jumped to his feet. ‘I’ve got Roche here with me – we’re on our way.’
    The black cab gently nosed into the heavy rush-hour traffic on Grosvenor Street, heading west in the direction of Hyde Park. Paula held her breath as she watched a police Range Rover, siren blazing, racing towards them, forcing its way down the gap in the middle of the two-lane road as drivers pulled over to either kerb. As it sped past, she was just in time to see it turn into New Bond Street before she let out a whimper.
    ‘Result!’ The driver smacked a triumphant palm against the steering wheel.
    Sitting next to her in the back, the white guy patted her thigh. ‘Don’t worry love,’ he leered. ‘It’s almost over.’

SIX
    Bond Street was named after Sir Thomas Bond, a follower of King Charles II. Old Bond Street was laid out in 1686 and was extended towards Oxford Street to the north in