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‘I know that, I know that Only they got toful arrest I could go to the papers, I said, destroying ood name Good character Whatever you call it’
‘Are you really tellingthe police in the course ofLet ht have seen ht out It’s my reputation’
‘Sue them’ Gus meant it as a joke but that was not how Nobby took it
‘You think I could? I reckon I’ve got a case You want to write about it then?’
‘I doubt you could sue I don’t know – have to check You could try asking for compensation, say it’s meant you can’t sleep properly, had to see the doctor’
‘I haven’t seen a doctor for thirty-six years Wouldn’t go near theet it Go in a hospital you come out orse than you started Or dead You want one of these?’
The packet of Bourbon creams was almost full ‘Picked them up in the car park behind the Tesco Dropped off a trolley so they’re a bit broken But they’re all right’
They sat and munched for a moment Gus looked at Nobby Nobby looked suddenly sly
‘I had a personal visit here,’ he said ‘From the police’
‘Well, I’d keep that quiet’
‘No, no This was the Chief Super Mr Serrailler Known Mr Serrailler since he was a plod Wellnear enough’
‘The DCS came here to see you? Get on’
‘Oh yes Wanted to ask for rew stories on them but he wasn’t a liar
‘Wants me to keep my eyes and ears open when I’h cops, you see,ht’
‘You can smirk There’s plenty I see and hear I’ about and tell the I’irls and rutters and reporting kids having a joint Just to do with these murders I’cars, people slipping down alleyways I’ve already been a great help to them Mr Serrailler told me as much Said it could provide vital evidence’
‘What could?’
‘Mobile phone,’ Nobby said
‘You’ve got a‘but you don’t know anyone to ring’
‘I have Or I had He took it’
‘Serrailler?’
‘Said it could prove very helpful’
‘Yeah, you toldyou then?’
‘Nobody Northem Don’t have no use for it But I took a lot of photos, see? And they could have anything on them’ He took down his tobacco tin and Rizlas
‘Vital evidence’
Forty-nine
SERRAILLER ARRIVED AT the mortuary of Bevham General just after ten He parked up, beside de Silva’s ancient Citroën DS, which in his police vieas unroadworthy but which presuh, he thought, touching the long sloping bonnet He loved classic cars but he needed one that had every sort of latest aid to driving and safety, not one that would let him down at the roadside But after this case, he decided now, ti a bit more fun
Nick de Silva was in theout various interesting spinal fractures Si closely at the body of a hunisable as such He wandered off into the waiting area, got a coffee froh back copies of Modern Pathology until Nick caown untied, faceto nag you about sotry and pin you down’
‘I’ht his own coffee to the standard-issue foam-filled hospital sofa, model name ‘Uncoulations?’
‘Is there any way you can say if the woled first, then put down in the chairs in front of the mirror, or whether they were placed there, under duress, then strangled?’
‘No No way I can tell There’s just a chance your forensics‘Both of them were fairly close to the mirrors, as I re their hair’
‘Well, if that’s near enough, and they were not dead when they were placed there, then they could have exhaled sharply enough for saliva to have gone out from the mouth on the breath, and been sprayed very finely on the -table surface If it’s there, your guys can find it – should have found it by now actually Have you had forensics’ full reports yet?’
‘Yes Nothing on either of thetable, drawers, glass Kick arse Forensics aren’t what they were; not since they stopped being done in-house Next thing, they’ll be privatising us I’ve got to get back’
‘How long before you decide your RTA victiot two more from the same crash now The bypass pile-up’
‘Shit, yes I’ve clearly been too tied up in CID trivia’
Half a dozen enal on this side of the hospital was too weak to pick anything up Simon walked round to the busy front entrance, the usual hway of ambulances, patients in wheelchairs, paraue of Friends café, get a sandwich and another coffee, call that lunch, and answer hiscorridor, he saw Rachel, unliht her up in a few strides and touched her ar? What’s happened?’
She was pale and looked stricken with anxiety and confusion, almost uncertain even where she was or who he was
She leaned against him with relief, but then pulled back ‘No’
He understood ‘I’et coffee – co’
‘Just sit with ently forwards, his hand firm on her shoulder The place was as busy as usual, but as usual, too, soot a table
‘It’s been the worst twelve hours of en didn’t seeood, though I know it’s e pay for, and he rang for an ambulance within a minute He’s in intensive care – it’s pneumonia and he’s very ill but I ca him and it’s terrible to watch’