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

favouritism. That’s just another word for cronyism, and that’s something I don’t have any time for. Because cronyism is a way of disguising prejudice, self-interest and lazy judgements. And the next step after cronyism is corruption.’
    ‘I’ll bear that in mind, ma’am.’ Smith paused. ‘If there’s nothing else, I’ve got an investigation to run. At least for now, anyway.’

    Sunday, 20th April
     
     
    Jane Francis had been sitting in casualty for what felt like hours. She glanced at her watch. She was right: it was hours. She was bored, but she was beginning to feel certain that her decision not to tell Andy just to man up after he’d fallen off his bike had been a good one. She had been tempted though, and she might even have hinted at it as an idea. His knee had been pretty swollen by the time that they’d arrived at A&E though, and he barely smiled when she’d said that his new fitness regime had got off to a bad start. But since he’d fallen off within fifty yards of the house that was, quite literally, true.
     
    When he was brought back out in a wheelchair she thought that he had a bit of an ‘I told you so’ expression on his face, although he was always hard to read, even now.
    ‘Sorry I was so long. They had to call the consultant in to see if I needed an op right away.’
    ‘And do you?’
    ‘No. I’ve got to rest it up for a week or two, and then they’ll do another scan and decide.’
    ‘So you’ve got to keep of it completely?’
    ‘Yes. I’m sorry to load you up with extra work.’
    She didn’t mind that at all, so long as it was his was investigative case work that he was talking about.
    ‘Don’t worry. That will be fine. Let’s just concentrate on getting you better.’
    ‘Thanks, but we are a bit short of food, so you might need to pop out later.’
    And so, as they made their way out to the car Jane pushed the wheelchair just a little bit faster than was absolutely necessary.
     
    Hall’s phone rang before they were half way home.
    ‘DCI Hall.’ Jane turned to him, hoping that it was work. It obviously was. ‘Yes, ma’am, I see. But I’m afraid I’m not going to be much use to anyone for the next few days. I’ve damaged my knee rather badly, so I’m going to be laid up at home until the swelling goes down a bit.’ Hall listened again, took the phone away from his ear and made a V-sign at it. Jane laughed, as quietly as she could. ‘Yes, ma’am, it is inconvenient, but I do have a suggestion. I may not be able to travel out to Workington but I can still use a computer and a phone, so why don’t I manage the case from home?’ He listened again. ‘I’ll try not to let you down, ma’am, and thank you for saying so. But I agree with you that DI Smith and DS Hodgson can’t take any further active part in this investigation. They’re just too close to what happened, in every sense. So I’d like to suggest that DS Mann and DS Francis run the investigation on the ground.’
     
    It was a long time before Hall spoke again. ‘So you need a recommendation as to who should be acting SIO, ma’am? Well, Ian is the more senior officer in terms of experience and time in post.’ Jane braked a little harder than she needed to as she approached the next roundabout. ACC Gorham was obviously saying something now, and Jane held her breath. ‘I agree, Jane has all of the attributes that you’ve noted, but you do know that we are in a relationship? Jane is driving me home from hospital now, in fact. So I’m hardly objective on this point, and that’s something that Ian will be all too aware of. But ultimately it’s your decision, and if you’re happy for me to make that clear to both officers, then I have nothing further to say. They’re both outstanding detectives, and either would do an excellent job.’ Hall listened again. ‘I’ve got absolutely no doubt that they will work together in harmony, ma’am. They’re both highly professional officers, and Jane