When the Evil Waits by M Lee (top fiction books of all time txt) 📕

told her about Polly? He shook his head. The last thing he needed at the moment was an entanglement.

Sophia was waiting for him. ‘The man of my dreams… actually more like nightmares. We have a shitload of work to get through, Ridpath.’

‘Great, set it up, Sophia, I’ll have a quick chat with Mrs Challinor.’

He knocked on the office door and heard a loud ‘Come.’

Mrs Challinor was in her usual position; sat at her desk, poring over a case file. ‘Ah, Ridpath, the man I want to see.’

‘I seem to be in demand at the moment.’

‘I wanted to ask you how the investigation is going? You’re due to report back to Claire Trent tomorrow?’

‘That’s why I wanted to update you. Our client, Michael Carsley, is going to be taken into custody for questioning.’

Her eyebrows rose, touching her grey hair. ‘Really? I was told this morning that the undertaker had already removed the body from the mortuary and taken it back to his funeral home.’

‘He’s not been charged with anything yet, but apparently there are anomalies in his statement.’

‘You’ve met the man, Ridpath, do you think he murdered his own son?’

He shook his head. ‘I don’t think so. There’s something not right there. The pathologist found bruising on the boy’s arms and the mother is scared of even meeting Michael Carsley, but I don’t think he murdered the boy.’

‘Will he be charged?’

‘I don’t know. There has to be enough evidence to convince the Crown Prosecution Service. I don’t think Turnbull has the evidence.’

‘Why interview Carsley, then?’

‘It’s a fishing trip. A chance to question Carsley at length, put pressure on him. They can hold him for twenty-four hours before he has to be released.’

‘When’s the funeral?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘And what happened to the other son, Daniel Carsley?’

‘I don’t know that either, Coroner. I presume he has been taken into care by the local council. He’s a vulnerable child.’

Mrs Challinor’s face hardened. ‘My agreement with Claire Trent was that you investigating this case would not jeopardise your work with our clients, nor would it compromise your commitment to represent the interests of the family in this difficult time for them…’

‘I don’t think that’s fair, Coroner, I—’

She held her hand up to prevent his speaking. ‘I honestly don’t care what you think is fair, Ridpath. Your job here is to represent the interests of the dead and their relatives. Remember the manual, “to be an advocate for the dead to safeguard the living.”’

‘You don’t need to remind me, Mrs Challinor.’

She stared at him unblinking. ‘So do you think you are doing your job?’

‘Yes,’ he answered firmly. ‘I need to make sure no other child suffers the fate of David Carsley. I can only do it by finding the boy’s killer before he kills again.’

‘But the difference between the Coroner’s Office and the police is stark, Ridpath, and you know this. We don’t chase convictions, we don’t chase criminals, we don’t chase promotions. We simply represent the families and we look for the truth. Who died? When did they die? How did they die? Who was responsible? That’s our remit. Nothing more, nothing less.’ She paused for a moment. ‘You don’t know what’s happening with a vulnerable family and their child. If your investigation is getting in the way of doing your job, let me know.’

‘The investigation is part of the job, Mrs Challinor. If I don’t find out who did this, other children will suffer. This man will strike again, of that I am sure.’

She licked her lips and softened her tone. ‘I understand the guilt you are feeling since the death of Polly…’

‘You don’t understand at all, Mrs Challinor.’

‘Let me finish.’

He nodded.

‘I’m willing to make some allowances, but your work with GMP must not be to the detriment of the standards of this office. I wonder if by investigating this case and also being the coroner’s officer on it, you have compromised your position.’

‘I disagree, Coroner,’ Ridpath said firmly. ‘In fact, I believe understanding the case has helped me do my job better.’

‘How?’

Ridpath thought. ‘I met Mrs Carsley, whom I wouldn’t have known otherwise, and involved her in her own son’s funeral. And I am sure Michael Carsley is innocent despite what others might think.’

‘Have you become too emotionally involved in the case, Ridpath? We do our job best when we are dispassionate.’

‘I am dispassionate about evidence but not about the victims of crime, particularly when those victims are seven years old.’

Mrs Challinor sat back in her chair. ‘I want you to be on top of all our cases and inquests, Ridpath. No excuses, is that clear?’

‘No excuses. Yes, Coroner.’

Her tone softened. ‘To that end, I propose we postpone your official return to this office until next Monday. It would give you time to finish your investigation. I’m sure Sophia could carry the workload until then.’

‘It would help, Coroner, thank you.’

‘But, Ridpath, the decision must be yours. Are you still a police officer or do you work for the Coroner’s Court?’

Before Ridpath could answer, there was a slight tap on the door.

Sophia entered. ‘I think you guys should see this…’

Chapter 43

She walked in, carrying the afternoon edition of one of the local papers. ‘I picked it up when I went for my coffee.’ She opened it out to a centre spread, most of which was dominated by a well-dressed Claire Trent standing in front of the police sign at GMP HQ.

Sophia began reading it out loud.

TOP COP PLAYS FOR KEEPS

by Molly Wright

She could be the chief executive of a publicly listed company. Or a top international lawyer. Or even something senior in politics.

Instead, Detective Superintendent Claire Trent chose to become a copper. Now she is the head of over 50 detectives and civilian personnel on the Major Investigation Team at Greater Manchester Police.

‘My family had no connection with the police at all. My father was an accountant and my mother a housewife. Her job was to raise the kids and look after the home, while my father went out to work at 7.53 on