A Body in the Lakes by Graham Smith (great books of all time .TXT) 📕

say it just now, but the thoughts running around Beth’s head were centred on the idea that the superiors, whose oversights had allowed the Lakeland Ripper to remain undetected for so long, were setting up O’Dowd and the FMIT as the scapegoats for their own failings.

‘Have you had any word on replacements for Thompson and Unthank?’

‘Yes.’ The word came out as a hiss. ‘Due to annual leave and everyone being up to their eyes in it, we’re not getting anyone else until Monday at the soonest.’

‘What, just you and me to investigate four murders? Jesus wept, don’t they want us to catch this killer? Have they forgotten about all the media attention that’s on us?’

‘That’s enough.’ O’Dowd kept her voice low, but there was no mistaking the anger in her tone. ‘Their hands are tied as much as ours are. Whether we like it or not, it’s just the two of us until Monday. If you’ve got any sense about you, you’ll accept what you cannot change and keep your trap shut. Lots of cops want to be on FMIT, and if you’re overheard complaining about what the chief super has or hasn’t done, you may just find yourself being transferred.’

Beth raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘Ma’am, you still haven’t commented on what I’ve told you.’

‘What do you want me to say? That you’ve done well? Is that the only reason you came back here tonight, to get a pat on the head?’

‘No. I came back here to report to you. To let you know what I’ve learned, and to see if you can use your experience to find something I’ve missed. Another reason I came back is that I trust you to tell me if I’m barking up the wrong tree so I won’t waste any more time on ideas you don’t think will pan out.’ O’Dowd’s words had cut Beth deep enough that she couldn’t keep the venom from her reply. ‘So which is it, Detective Inspector? Am I on the right track, or do you have another direction you’d like to point me in?’

Beth knew from the twist of O’Dowd’s face that using O’Dowd’s rank the way she had was a mistake, but she couldn’t take it back now. Instead she waited for the swearing that would undoubtedly come her way.

‘Problem, ladies?’ Mannequin’s question made them both jump. ‘You both seem somewhat animated.’

Beth hadn’t heard the man’s approach, but that didn’t surprise her. Rubber-heelers.

‘Why would there be?’ Rather than let O’Dowd blow at him, Beth knew she had to rescue the situation. ‘DI O’Dowd and I often have this kind of frank discussion. Both of us have found that a spot of verbal cut and thrust, where no quarter is either given or expected, stimulates our thought processes.’ Beth tilted her head as she looked at Mannequin. ‘You know what it’s like when five minutes after having an argument you think of the point that would have given you a guaranteed win? Well this is the same thing; we come out here, have a go at each other on the understanding that nothing that’s said is really meant, and we see what shakes loose.’

‘I see.’ Mannequin’s tone was filled with doubt. ‘Well, I shall be most interested in seeing what conclusions your tête-à-tête has brought forward. In future, though, I suggest that you have your, ahem, discussions, in a more respectful way. Should either of you be inclined to register a complaint against the other, I would be available if you’d like to have that conversation.’

As Mannequin strode away, O’Dowd shot an undecipherable look Beth’s way, but when her mouth opened, there was no trace of the earlier anger. ‘Not only are you a liar, but you’re a very convincing one. Should I be worried about you ever lying to me?’

‘Never. And, truth be told, I didn’t lie to him either.’ Beth gave a shrug. ‘Okay, so we don’t plan our arguments, but the principle stands all the same. I had a whinge at you this morning and you slapped me down. I was angry, but the anger got my brain working at ways to out-think you.’

‘Did you think of anything?’

‘You’ve heard it all.’ Beth gave O’Dowd a soft grin as yet another cigarette was pushed in the DI’s mouth. ‘But you still haven’t told me what you think.’

O’Dowd’s arms flapped outwards from her sides like the wings of a penguin. ‘There’s not a lot to say. I think you’re stretching things a bit with the Brown lass, but otherwise, I can’t fault your thinking.’

‘Thanks.’ Beth turned and went towards the back door so she could enter the building.

‘Where you going?’

‘I’ve got reports to write up and there’s no way I’m leaving them until tomorrow.’ Beth set off towards the office, fully intent on spending a few hours with her spreadsheets as soon as she’d got her paperwork up to date. She also planned to chase up the detectives in Bolton and Newcastle who’d been tasked with speaking to Christine Peterson’s and Joanne Armstrong’s families.

It was 9.00 p.m. when Beth pushed back her chair and rose to her feet. Her spreadsheets were up to date and she’d gone over them a dozen times without finding a connection that made sense. She’d also looked for further evidence to back up the nasty suspicions she had about Felicia Evans’s assault and murder.

Willow Brown still hadn’t returned home or made contact with her parents, but at least the teenager who’d been reported missing had been found. Granted the lass had gone back to the family home with her neck covered in love bites and reeking of alcohol, but at least she was safe and sound.

She’d managed to get a hold of the Bolton and Newcastle detectives but neither family had anything to add to their original statements.

Perhaps the morning would produce some better ideas, but she knew that was more a case of wishful thinking than a likely probability.

Sixty-One

As much as he fancied pouring himself a large