Shadow Play Read Online Free PDF

shouldn’t have been prosecuted in the first place,’ said Redwood angrily. ‘Not if the evidence was as slim as you suggest. What were you thinking of, Helen? What’s happened to your judgement? You’re becoming a persecutor!’
    It was an old joke, persecutor, prosecutor, the best he could do to make it seem as if he had listened to anything other than the singing, but Helen rounded on him without any humour at all.
    â€˜Of course there was evidence!’ She stopped and blushed. ‘There was at least half an indecent assault. I mean he was pretty persistent.’ A smile began to emerge at the corner of her mouth. ‘OK, point taken. He didn’t actually touch her. He says he’s driven mad by football. Like a werewolf by the moon.’
    â€˜What’s half an indecent assault?’ Dinsdale enquired.
    â€˜A decent one,’ said Redwood, ‘and now if you don’t mind, I mean if that’s all …’ He had done his duty. They took the signal and rose simultaneously with relief. The meetings were a strain, the room was stifling.
    â€˜Helen, would you wait?’
    Dinsdale paused at the door, ready to come back as Helen remained where she was. ‘Oh, it’s all right, man,’ Redwood barked. ‘I’m not going to tick her off, it’s about something else entirely. No need to be so protective, she doesn’t need a witness.’ He wondered, not for the first time, how it was Helen acquired her legion of allies. But once Dinsdale had gone, Redwood wished he would return to save him from being alone with her. He coughed with the hollow sound of a man looking for his place on a page, unable to stand a silence, but wishing to postpone speech. He waited for the door to close. At least the doors here closed with a weighty quietness, unlike the windows which rattled like thunder.
    â€˜Helen, I could do with your help. Rather a delicate matter and I don’t know how to handle it.’
    She looked at him sharply, waiting for irony, remembering that Redwood didn’t send people up, only brought them down when they were not looking. Perhaps it was a genuine plea from a man helpless when faced with the complexity of emotion, envious of her own insouciance in the brash, prison corridors of life. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. He coughed again and searched for a handkerchief, abandoning the quest in the desire to begin so he could finish. He often referred problems to Helen and he was ashamed of it.
    â€˜Rose,’ he said ponderously. ‘Rose Darvey.’
    Helen was instantly defensive. ‘She’s a great girl. Clever, should have more responsibility, works like a Trojan, early morning, late night—’
    â€˜It’s the late nights I’m talking about,’ he interrupted.
    â€˜Why? We should be pleased to have someone like her. I thought you said she could go out, see more trials, take on more. I know she isn’t exactly polite, but who’s complaining? She’s rude but she’s keen …’
    â€˜How very apt, both rude and keen. I’m glad you see her as that. So does the Chief Inspector at the local nick who has particular responsibility for the welfare of his youngest police constables in the police section house up the road. He came in to see me.’ Another cough. This time he found the handkerchief, looked at it, uncertain whether to blow his nose, but increasingly certain what to say. ‘Rose has been through the whole division like a dose of salts. She’s out with one or other of the bachelors every night. She has favourites, but it all seems to depend which shift they’re on and their consequent availability, otherwise one’s as good as another. I asked the doorman downstairs and he confirmed there’s a lad in half blues out there every evening when she leaves. What’s more, I happen to know for a fact, she’s changed her address in the