Hail and Farewell (The Lakeland Murders) Read Online Free PDF Page A

sitting opposite you now?’
    ‘Yes, I am.’
    ‘I need to discuss your potential conflicts, DI Smith.’
    ‘What, because me and Kenny Hodgson were playing last night, ma’am? I’ve already explained that we had information concerning Moffett and Hayton.’
    ‘You have. May I see your risk assessment form, please?’
    ‘I haven’t had time to complete one yet, what with the death last night.’
    ‘I see. You are aware that the whole point of such a form is that it is completed in advance of an operation?’
    Smith nodded. he couldn’t think of an excuse, and even if he could he wouldn’t have bothered.
    ‘And you’ve had this particular information for how long?’
    ‘Just a day or two. Something like that, anyway.’
    ‘That’s more than long enough to complete the risk assessment form. But you did discuss the situation with tactical of course? You must have decided not to deploy the armed response team. As a strategic decision, I mean.’
    ‘That’s right, ma’am.’
    ‘So you did discuss that decision with tactical, didn’t you? After all, we’re talking about serious public disorder here.’
    ‘No, ma’am. I didn’t think it was necessary. Like I say, Uppies and Downies always involves a bit of disorder. It’s the whole idea of the thing, in a way. And Moffett and Hayton aren’t stupid enough to start open warfare in front of hundreds of witnesses.’
    ‘And yet you still pulled a young man’s lifeless body out of that stream last night. Didn’t you, DI Smith?’
     
    Smith didn’t reply. There didn’t seem to be much point. But surely Gorham hadn’t come all this way just to bollock him about his paperwork. All she had to do was read his appraisals, any of them, to know that had never been his strong point. It was what you had DCs for, anyway.
    ‘So let’s talk about your conflicts’ said Gorham, looking at him as intently as if he was suspected of murdering her mother. ‘I have a decision to make, and I wanted to talk to you before I made up my mind.’
    ‘And what’s that, ma’am?’
    ‘Whether you and DS Hodgson can continue to be involved in this investigation. Having spoken to you I have now arrived at my decision, I’m afraid.’
    Smith tried not to look as angry as he felt ‘But ma’am, we’re the blokes on the ground. We know the people. Christ, it was us who saw this coming.’
    ‘And that’s one of the reasons that I’ve decided to remove you from this investigation, just as soon as a new SIO can be appointed.’
    ‘But ma’am..’
    ‘I don’t expect my decisions to be questioned, Inspector. And please do bear in mind that in due course there will be an inquiry into the way in which you both prepared for and carried through the operation last night. I’m not going to say that your apparent flouting of procedure led to this young man’s death, but it may have been a contributory factor. As a result, you could easily be conflicted, as a natural causes cause of death and a no-crime outcome would be very much in your interests, and in those of DS Hodgson.’
    ‘But I’ve just told the troops that I think that the kid could have been involved with one of the gangs, ma’am.’
    ‘I appreciate that, Inspector, but you weren’t subject to an investigation at that point, were you?’
    ‘So what next, ma’am?’
    ‘You continue to run the investigation until you are relieved. Brief your DS on what I’ve said, but no-one else. You’ll be contacted by the new SIO just as soon as he or she has been appointed. But please ensure that all approved investigative procedures are followed in the meantime. I hope I make myself clear?’
    ‘You do, ma’am. So who’s it to be? Andy Hall, I expect.’
    ‘He’s certainly one option. What makes you suggest him?’
    ‘It’s not a suggestion, ma’am. Not at all. But he is the blue-eyed boy. We all know that, even out here.’
    ‘DCI Hall does have a record of running successful investigations, but I don’t do