The Summons Read Online Free PDF Page A

added, “He’s made his way here. An incident has occurred, an extremely serious incident.”
    “And you believe it’s Mountjoy?”
    “We’re certain.”
    “How do I come into this?”
    “We need you here. It’s essential that you come.”
    “Hold on, Mr. Farr-Jones. I quit two years ago. I’m not on the strength anymore.”
    “Kindly hear me out, Mr. Diamond. This is more than a dangerous man on the run. He’s created an emergency, a major emergency, and I can’t say any more than that over the phone except that we have asked for and achieved a press embargo. As an ex-superintendent you’ll appreciate that we don’t go to such lengths unless it is justified by the sensitivity of the incident.”
    “And you think I can help?”
    “It isn’t like that.”
    “What is it like, exactly?”
    “Didn’t I just say that I can’t go into details?”
    “Why not, if there’s an embargo? Surely that makes it safe to talk.”
    “Please don’t be difficult. I know this is a wretched time to be disturbed, but take my word for it, there is an overriding necessity for you to come.”
    “You mean right away?”
    “The officers who are with you now have instructions to drive you here. As soon as you arrive you will be fully briefed.”
    “And if I decline?”
    “I would still require the officers to drive you here.”
    Diamond was tempted to ask what the purpose of the phone call had been if he was being carted off to Bath willy- nilly, but he restrained himself. “I’d better get some clothes on then, but no obligation. You do appreciate I’m not in the police anymore?”
    He showed Smith and Brown where the coffee things were and went back to the bedroom to break the news of his departure to Stephanie. He told her as much as he knew; after all, she was entitled to be told and he was under no obligation of secrecy. She found it difficult to credit that the police wanted him back after the angry scene when he had quit. In his heavy-handed way he had been a good detective, but no one is irreplaceable. She asked how long he would be there and he reminded her that Bath was only a couple of hours’ drive. He promised to phone her in the morning.
    To make light of it, he said, “Well, I suppose it beats posing in the nude.”
    Stephanie said, “Don’t count on it.”

Chapter Three

    Sergeant Brown drove as if he wanted to get airborne. The streets of West London were a blur from the backseat of the red Montego heading for the M4. Peter Diamond, never comfortable in cars, tried repeatedly to get a conversation going, but neither of his escorts would be charmed or bullied into disclosing any more about the “major emergency” being used to justify this extraordinary night exercise. By Junction Three Diamond had concluded that they were just dogsbodies who knew nothing.
    He changed the subject and asked for news of the current personnel in the Avon and Somerset CID. Evidently a shakeout had taken place since the new Chief Constable had arrived. Of the murder squad of two years ago—Diamond’s team— only two senior detectives remained. As many as seven had been transferred to other duties or had taken early retirement. The survivors were Keith Halliwell, charming, but a lightweight, and John Wigfull, the fast-track career man with the staff college mentality. Wigfull had been elevated to the rank of Chief Inspector. He now headed the squad.
    Diamond closed his eyes and told himself it was all behind him. What did it matter to him personally if a toe rag like Wigfull had the top job?
    “Good thinking,” said Smith.
    “What?”
    “Getting some shut-eye while you can.”
    “The speed we’re going, it could be permanent.”
    However, Diamond did drift off.
    When he woke, prepared to find himself in intensive care, they were at Membury Services, sixty miles on. A petrol stop.
    “I don’t know about you fellows, but I wouldn’t say no to a coffee,” he suggested.
    “We’ll be there in under the hour,”