Chapter 7
SEVEN
‘What?’
Harry didn’t want to repeat what he’d just shared with Detective Superintendent Firbank, but he understood also why she needed to hear it all again. It was a lot, and he’d just thrown the information at her without so much as a Hi, how are you.
‘Someone’s following me,’ he said. ‘And I think they’re keeping eyes on the rest of my team, my family, my friends.
I’ve had photos sent through to my phone of the day at the registry office.
I’ve had a member of my team, my DS, run off the road, and just now, having found the vehicle responsible for exactly that, a vehicle which was occupied by four dummies dressed like Ben, Liz, Grace, and yours truly, it was then blown up; but only once we were clear. ’
Harry took a breath, waited for a reply.
The heat from the burning SUV was actually rather pleasant.
He stared back down the valley towards Gayle and Hawes, took in the view of Stagg’s Fell, the green fields below, the river Ure cutting its slow path through it all, as it had done for millennia.
If his cousin was looking to stain this place with his touch, then he had another thing coming, that was for sure.
‘He’s up to something,’ Harry said, as Firbank still hadn’t replied. ‘So, what I want to know is, considering everything that’s happened, his history, and all the rest of it, including the mysterious death of his father, why’s he not under surveillance?’
‘He is, Harry,’ Firbank replied. ‘But there’s only—’
‘Don’t go trying to give me any bollocks about resources,’ Harry cut in.
I know all about how little money there is, how few staff, how bad recruitment is, how sometimes it feels like we’re fighting a losing battle.
Excuses, all of it, usually aired when failings are so bloody obvious you may as well just light a beacon and announce them with a claxon! ’
A pause.
‘Finished?’
‘Oh, I’ve not even started,’ said Harry.
‘Which is why I’m calling, isn’t it? I know who’s behind this, we all do, because who else would it be?
I can handle myself, and I can deal with me being on the end of whatever little scheme he’s got going, but if those close to me start getting sucked into it, well, that changes everything. ’
Another pause, this one thicker somehow, thought Harry, and he remembered how Firbank, despite her petite size, had an unnatural ability to change the atmosphere of a room simply by walking into it and staring at you. That she could do the same down the phone was nothing short of a superpower.
‘You never use his name, you know that?’ Firbank said. ‘You know it, though, don’t you?’
‘No, actually, I don’t,’ Harry replied. ‘Never made a point of finding out, and I’m not interested in knowing it, either. That he’s related to me means nothing. That he’s clearly taking a very dangerous course of action, well that bloody well does.’
‘To what end, though, Harry?’ Firbank asked. ‘I’ve a team working to gather evidence. I’ve got people working undercover. But we’ve had nothing on this, whatever it is. I’m as surprised as anyone.’
‘He wants to talk,’ Harry said. ‘That’s all that I know.
There was a digital voice recorder in the SUV.
I grabbed it, which was when I smelled fuel and bolted.
I think whoever it is he’s employed to do all this, was watching and waiting for us to get far enough away from it before blowing it up with a remote trigger. It was a close thing, but we’re fine.’
‘Why do you think they were watching?’
‘Spotted them,’ said Harry. ‘Bino’s I reckon.’
‘Bi—oh, binoculars you mean,’ said Firbank.
‘Glass caught the sun. Too far off for us to chase, though.’
‘Are you going to? Talk, I mean?’
‘I’d rather take a cheese grater to my bollocks,’ Harry replied.
‘What a lovely image you conjure,’ Firbank sighed. ‘So, that’s a no, then.’
‘Actually, no, it isn’t. Though I’d rather do that, and worse, believe me, I can’t see that I’ve got any other choice. I need to know what he wants, and if the only way I can protect everyone is to do exactly that, then I will. Hopefully, I’ll be able to work out what he’s up to.’
‘On that,’ Firbank said, ‘I’ll mention this to my people, too. If they know something else is up, they might have a better chance of finding out what and why.’
‘Appreciate that.’
Harry wasn’t sure how to close the conversation.
Firbank asked, ‘So, how are the plans going?’
‘Plans?’
‘For the celebration or wedding or whatever you want to call it.’
‘You’re coming, then?’
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ve booked somewhere to stay. Decided I’d use this as an excuse to get away for a few days. Never been to Wensleydale in my life.’
Harry still wasn’t sure why he’d invited her.
It wasn’t like they were close. In fact, a good deal of their relationship had been built on arguments behind closed doors, and others very much out in the open.
She had done her best to keep an eye on Ben, though, plus, if it hadn’t been for her sending him north in the first place, his life would now be looking very different.
‘It’s a beautiful place,’ said Harry. ‘As for the wedding, it’s all going okay, I think. Didn’t give ourselves much time, but I think that’s all for the good. Can’t be doing with hanging around.’
‘You’re the most impatient man I’ve ever known,’ Firbank said.
‘I’m not impatient, I just like to get on with things, that’s all.’
‘Exactly. Let me know what he says when you speak to him, won’t you?’
‘I will.’
And with that, the call was over.
Harry stared for a moment into the flames.
They weren’t licking the sky with as much keenness now, and the cool breeze was starting to dampen them rather than encourage.
He took out the digital recorder, listened to the message again, and tapped in the number at the end.
He went to call it, thought twice, didn’t.
He needed to build himself up for that. Instead, he sauntered back to where Ethan and Liz were staring at him as they leaned against the bonnet of his Rav.
‘Everything okay?’ Ethan asked. ‘What did they say?’
Harry realised that Ethan and Liz had thought he had walked off to call the number he’d just saved in his phone.
‘Spoke with Firbank,’ he said. ‘My old D-Sup. She’s seeing what she can dig up.’
‘So, you didn’t phone them, then, whoever it was that did all this?’
Harry shook his head.
‘Just because someone says jump doesn’t mean you have to.’
‘Not everyone tells you to jump by trying to blow you up,’ said Liz.
‘They weren’t,’ said Harry. ‘Now, has either of you called the fire service to deal with this mess yet?’
Liz and Ethan stared at each other.
‘Er, no, actually,’ Ethan said.
Harry rested a heavy hand on Ethan’s shoulder.
‘Best you had then, don’t you think?’