A Pitying of Doves Read Online Free PDF Page B

that Shepherd was anxious to avoid the unedifying spectacle of having him directly interrogate a foreign dignitary in her office. Still, if this was the way all inquiries were going to go in this case, it was not going to make Jejeune’s job any easier.
    Hidalgo tilted his head slightly to show he was unoffended by even the faintest suggestion that he would withhold such information.
    â€œI can confirm that Ramon was not at the sanctuary as a representative of the Mexican Consulate. To the best of my knowledge, no one at the consulate has had any dealings with this organization, this sanctuary, nor, indeed, was anyone even aware of its existence before the terrible events of today.”
    â€œCan you think of any reason Mr. Santos would have wanted to keep the consulate from knowing his whereabouts?”
    Shepherd fired a warning glance at Jejeune, and for a second time she hurried in to spare the counsellor’s feelings. “We are aware, of course, that there could be any number of reasons a travelling foreign diplomat might want to use an alias. It is not a criminal offence, provided there is no illegal motive. I’m sure Inspector Jejeune simply wants to eliminate that as a possibility.”
    Failing to receive the reassurance she sought, Shepherd used the half-beat of uncomfortable silence to flash an apologetic smile toward Hidalgo. But Hidalgo inclined his head amiably again to dismiss the awkwardness.
    â€œYou must obviously establish Ramon’s motives for checking into the hotel under an alias, if you feel it is important. However, I doubt it would be to conceal his movements from us. All consular staff members have tracking devices in their phones these days, as a security precaution. I understand Ramon left his phone at the hotel?” Hidalgo spread his hands, palms upward. “We could have found out exactly where he was if we had wanted to. Again, for the record, we did not.”
    The effort of politesse seemed to weigh upon Hidalgo and he sighed deeply. While he carried his sadness with dignity, it was clear to see the counsellor had been devastated by the loss of one of his staff. Hidalgo’s grief had its own bittersweet charm. It was the kind of quality the DCS would respond to, thought Jejeune.
    Shepherd stared at the chief inspector intently. “So, any early thoughts, Domenic?”
    Her inviting tone puzzled Jejeune at first. The woman , he realized. Maggie. She wants to show Hidalgo we are off and running already. But there were far too many inconsistencies for Jejeune to put Maggie Wylde forward as a viable suspect. And surely Shepherd knew his methods well enough by now to know he was unlikely to be stampeded into a rash course of action merely because she wanted to show off in front of her dignitary.
    â€œNothing concrete,” he said cautiously.
    As far as Jejeune was concerned, his expression could have only reflected his unwillingness to reveal anything about Maggie, but whatever it was that Shepherd imagined she could see in his face seemed to please her.
    â€œFirst impressions, then? I expect the counsellor would be interested to hear any preliminary thoughts you may have.” What is it that makes you doubt Maggie’s involvement? she meant. For reasons Jejeune couldn’t even begin to understand, Shepherd seemed to be enjoying their little sub rosa conversation, revelling in it, almost.
    â€œIt would just be speculation, at this point,” he said warily.
    â€œI’m sure Señor Hidalgo will appreciate that, in the absence of any firm evidence yet, speculation is going to be one of our best approaches.”
    Jejeune tried to convey to Shepherd with a laden glance just how dubious he thought this line of conversation was, but Shepherd was simultaneously returning his gaze and avoiding the import of it with such practised skill, he was left with little alternative but to accept her invitation.
    â€œThe scene suggests that this was not a