Case One Read Online Free PDF

stay with Ashleigh’s mother for the time being.”
    â€œWhat’ll happen now, Sarge?” Sam asked.
    â€œWhat do you think?” Stafford had a habit of turning a question back on the person who asked it.
    â€œCID will come in because of the sexual assault?”
    â€œ
Suspected
assault,” Stafford corrected him, but nodded. Then his attention shifted to Holly. “I want a word with you.”
    He led her aside leaving Sam where he was. Holly could guess what was coming.
    â€œDid you threaten to arrest Dr Scobie?”
    â€œNo, Sarge.”
    Stafford gave her a narrow-eyed look. “He’s under the distinct impression that you did.”
    Holly knew there was no point in trying to play it down. She said, “I told him that obstructing an investigation was an offence and then he asked if I was going to arrest him. I said no.”
    â€œIn what way was he obstructing an investigation?” Stafford asked. It was impossible to gauge what he was thinking.
    â€œI asked him for an update on Ashleigh’s condition but he wouldn’t talk to me. He said he’d only talk to a reg.”
    Stafford chewed that over for a moment, then he said: “So you misled him.”
    â€œNot on purpose.”
    Another look.
    â€œWell, yeah, a bit. But there was no
reason
not to tell me, and if you’d had to send a reg down when you were already busy…”
    Stafford raised a hand. “Okay,” he said. “I’ve reminded Dr Scobie that good communications help everyone, so in future I don’t think there’ll be a problem.”
    Holly didn’t think there would either, not if Stafford had done the reminding.
    â€œBut just remember,” Stafford went on, “you’re not the only person who comes in here needing information or help. If someone’s pissed off with you, they’re liable to carry it over to anyone else in a uniform. Got it?”
    â€œYes, Sarge.”
    â€œRight.” He gave her a last hawkish look, then turned away. “Sam?”
    From where he’d been watching the exchange, Sam came across.
    â€œYou asked Mrs Jarvis about Ashleigh’s movements and the clothes she was wearing, right?”
    â€œYes, Sarge,” Sam said. They’d asked the questions on the way to the hospital.
    â€œOkay, update Holly on the way back to Gatemead Road. DS Woods should be there by the time we are. Holly will be briefing him.”
    â€œMe?” Holly was taken by surprise.
    â€œYou,” Stafford said.
    â€œYes, Sarge.”
    Was that a punishment or a test to see how well she’d cope – or maybe both? But before Holly had time to figure it out Stafford was gesturing brusquely for them to move. “Come on, then. Prove you can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

10.
    GATEMEAD ROAD
20:24 HRS
    â€œThe victim is Ashleigh Jarvis. She’s fourteen and lives at 23 Mayberry Court with her mother, Dee Jarvis. Father absent for some time.”
    Holly glanced up from her notebook to see if this was what DS Woods wanted to hear. She only knew him by sight and he hadn’t looked particularly overjoyed to discover that Holly would be briefing him, although he hadn’t complained either. He was a solid-looking man, early forties, with an unexcitable manner. He was wearing a bulky waterproof jacket over his suit and he also had a cold.
    â€œGo on,” he said, seemingly more interested in finding a tissue to blow his nose than in what Holly was saying.
    Holly looked back at her notes. Verbal briefings were on the monthly assessment list but she hadn’t had to give one “live” before.
    â€œAccording to her mother, Ashleigh was at a friend’s house – Lauren Booth, 165 Escott Road. At about 18:40 Mrs Jarvis got a text from Ashleigh to say she’d be home soon and at 19:06 the RTC was reported by a member of the public.”
    â€œHave you got a description of the clothes