DCI Isaac Cook Box Set 1

when it wasn’t ‒ exactly what he was experiencing now. He saw no reason to let the man ride roughshod over him. He had not become the senior officer of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command at Challis Street by allowing aggressive and bombastic individuals to take control.
‘Sir, your attitude is not conducive to this meeting. Last time I was here, you were more agreeable.’
‘That was different.’ It was clear that Angus MacTavish was used to putting other people on the spot, making them feel uncomfortable. He did not enjoy the policeman’s comment.
‘What was different? The fact that you fobbed me off by appealing to my good nature?’
‘No, of course not; well, maybe. Apologies, this is placing me in an awkward position,’ MacTavish said.
‘And my people in possible danger?’
‘That’s possible.’
‘I can call them off. Is that what you want?’
‘I’m not sure. The problem is that I don’t know the full story, just some parts of it.’
‘Are you saying there may be some validity in them continuing?’
‘We still need to find out the truth. It was one thing to be out looking for a missing woman, but if we find her murdered, then by whom? The answer may have repercussions that none of us can comprehend.’
With both men more relaxed, MacTavish called for some tea. Mrs Gregory, after a short delay, entered the room and served the tea. Both men moved from the formal seating to a couple of more comfortable chairs to continue the discussion.
Mrs Gregory, polite and agreeable, indulged in some banter with her boss. She must have heard the raised voices, Richard Goddard thought. Must be used to it, I suppose.
With the tea poured, MacTavish spoke again, this time in a more agreeable manner, ‘Have your people seen any unfamiliar faces?’
‘Should they have?’
‘They’re being watched, I’m sure of it.’
‘By whom? Or is that secret?’
‘I would say the security services. MI5, probably.’
‘What does this woman know that’s so important?
‘Detective Superintendent, I’ll level with you. Initially, I thought this was about an affair she had when she was young with a senior member of the government.’
‘What’s so wrong about that? We live in liberated times. It’s hardly a case for murder.’
‘That’s what I would have thought, but there was a child.’
‘What about the child?’
‘I don’t know. It was a different time, the baby was adopted.’
‘There are large swathes of the public that would see that as unacceptable.’
‘Which part? Having a child out of wedlock, or the adoption?’ MacTavish asked.
‘Depends on which public we’re talking about.’
‘The voting public.’
‘A child out of wedlock, thirty plus years ago, would have been seen as sinful. Necessary to cover up at all costs. Even so, would this being revealed affect the outcome of an election?’
‘It could make a difference if the parties were running neck and neck, especially if the woman has been murdered.’
‘That’s how my detectives see it. It’s the only conclusion.’
‘I don’t believe the government would condone murder. Silence the woman, prevent publication of her life story, but murder?’
‘Are you saying that if she is found murdered, it has more sinister undertones?’
Angus MacTavish paused for a while. He seemed to the detective superintendent to be doing mental calculations, analysing the pros and cons of the situation. ‘If it is found that she has been murdered, it can only mean one thing,’ he said.
‘Yes?’
‘It’s not because of an illegitimate birth and an adoption.’
‘Then what is it about?’
‘I don’t know, and I need to know. We all need to know if we are to make rational decisions.’
‘And whether it will impact the result of the forthcoming election?’
‘I think an electoral result for or against the ruling party may be a minor issue if people are willing to commit murder, and on the face of it an officially condoned murder.’
‘An assassination, is that what you are saying?’
‘I believe that is what I am saying.’ Angus MacTavish’s affable manner had changed, not to anger against Richard Goddard, but to worry as to what this all meant.
‘Detective Superintendent, your two men. Brief them as you see fit, and put them out in the field. Make sure they are carrying weapons. This is possibly going to be nasty.’
‘Who will you inform?’
‘The prime minister, in the strictest confidence,’ MacTavish replied.
‘Is he the father?’
‘Information on a need-to-know basis. You know that.’
‘On a need-to-know basis. That’s correct.’

Chapter 10
Isaac and Farhan, not clear about the direction to take, and temporarily out of leads, had taken the morning in a leisurely manner. They saw no reason to continue until their senior returned from meeting with his contact. Isaac never asked the name, although he had a shrewd idea who it was.
Farhan had managed to take the children to school for the first time in a month; Isaac just lay in bed for an extra hour and thought about Jess O’Neill. He could not see her as a murderer. However, he had learnt a long time ago that the least likely person, especially in a murder case, often turns out to be the culprit. Jess O’Neill seemed to have no connection to Marjorie Frobisher, other than they were work colleagues and Jess had told Marjorie that her starring days were drawing to a close. There was still the issue of Jess and Richard Williams. Could she have screwed Williams just because he drove a Ferrari and was rich? He resolved to find out.
Just as Isaac intended to roll over for another five-minute nap, the phone rang. ‘Two o’clock, your office. Make sure DI Ahmed is there as well.’ Richard Goddard had made the call as he exited MacTavish’s office.
Isaac and Farhan were in the office well in advance of the nominated time. Richard Goddard, a stickler for punctuality, arrived on the dot. He