Ashes by Now Read Online Free PDF Page A

morning.’
    â€˜Right,’ I agreed.
    â€˜I see you got someone.’
    â€˜Someone,’ I said. ‘But not the geezer who did it. At least I don’t think so.’ I wondered how long that would take to be reported to Collier. Who the fuck cared?
    â€˜Why’s that?’ asked Tom.
    â€˜Don’t know. That’s why I’m here, and not back at the station, talking to the man concerned. I think my DS reckons I’m rocking the boat.’
    â€˜Are you?’
    â€˜Don’t think so. Can I use your phone?’
    He took it from off the back of the bar and put it on the counter in front of me, then vanished. I could see why his pub was so popular. I dialled the number of the nick and asked to be put through to CID.
    â€˜CID. Millar,’ said a voice.
    â€˜Lenny. It’s Nick Sharman.’
    â€˜Mr Unpopular. Where are you?’
    â€˜Tom’s.’
    â€˜You learn fast. How’s it going?’
    â€˜A total wash. Nobody on my list’s about.’
    â€˜That’s Collier’s special shit list. He only gives it to you when he wants you out of the way.’
    â€˜How’s it going with that?’
    â€˜Another total wash. I’m beginning to think you were right. Sailor’s even beginning to convince me. We’ll probably kick him out later.’
    â€˜Any other face in the frame?’
    â€˜Not really. The usual collection of losers who get a hard-on pinching knickers off lines or peeping into someone’s back bedroom.’
    â€˜That’s bad.’
    â€˜You can say that again. All the real perverts round here seem to be visiting Her Majesty at the moment.’
    â€˜What shall I do?’
    â€˜Stay at Tom’s and have another drink. I wish I was with you. Come in later. Collier won’t even notice.’
    So that’s what I did. I had another pint or two, made some back calls – where by a miracle I managed to interview a couple of people, without any conspicuous result – and wandered into the nick about four.
    Collier was standing in the general office behind the reception area. ‘Sharman,’ he said. ‘Any luck with that lot of calls I gave you?’
    â€˜Not really. I managed to dig a couple out of their pits. I’ll write it up.’
    â€˜Harvey’s here.’
    â€˜The DI? Carol Harvey’s father?’
    â€˜The same. He wants to see you.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜â€™Cos you were there when Grant was nicked.’
    â€˜Any luck with him?’ I asked.
    Collier shook his head.
    We went upstairs, and a large, dark-haired man was coming out of Superintendent Byrne’s office. With him was a young girl of about twelve. She had long, thick red hair, wore Coke-bottle-bottom glasses and a school uniform. Both she and her father looked like they’d had better days. I imagine they had.
    â€˜This is Sharman, sir,’ said Collier. ‘Sharman, DI Harvey.’
    â€˜Oh, Sharman. Good, I’d like a word. Jackie, will you stay with Sergeant Collier? I want to speak to the DC in private. Then we’ll go up to the hospital.’
    â€˜Come with me, love,’ said Collier. ‘I’ll find you a cup of tea and somewhere to sit. That office is empty, sir. Use that.’ He gestured at a door beside us.
    The girl looked at her father, then me, then Collier, shrugged, and went with him in the direction of the canteen.
    Harvey opened the office door and led me in. He perched on the edge of the desk and I stood.
    â€˜This is a dreadful thing,’ he said.
    I nodded.
    â€˜Do you think this bloke Grant did it?’
    I shook my head.
    â€˜Why not?’
    Everybody kept asking me that. ‘Not his style, Mr Harvey,’ I said. ‘He hasn’t got the guts to touch. Looking’s his thing. Looking and showing. That’s how he’s got his kicks up until now.’
    â€˜Why’d you pull him then?’
    â€˜It wasn’t my idea.