Ashes by Now Read Free Page B

with. I was getting well pissed by then, and hadn’t had to put my hand in my pocket once. I was beginning to wonder when we’d do some real work, when Lenny said, ‘Time-to-go time, son. Don’t think it’s going to be like this every day. The DS told me to break you in gentle. I think we’ll get back to the factory and see what’s occurred whilst we’ve been enjoying a nice drink in here.’
    â€˜Suits me,’ I said.
    â€˜You drive,’ said Lenny. ‘You’re more pissed than me.’
    So I did.

5
    When we got back to the station, the balloon had gone up. A balloon that wouldn’t land again for another twelve years or more.
    The DI was standing in the CID office, with the DS who’d sent me to see Lenny Millar. The inspector’s name was Paul Grisham. The sergeant’s, Collier. Terry Collier.
    â€˜Where have you two been?’ demanded Grisham.
    â€˜I’ve been showing Sharman round the plot,’ said Lenny.
    â€˜Round the pubs more like,’ replied Grisham. ‘Sharman, you look pissed.’ He wasn’t a detective inspector for nothing.
    â€˜A girl’s been raped,’ Grisham went on. ‘Behind some lockup garages at the back of the town hall. It’s a bad one. She’s been pretty badly knocked about.’
    â€˜How badly?’ asked Lenny.
    â€˜Badly enough. She’s still unconscious. They don’t know if she’ll live.’
    â€˜When?’ asked Lenny.
    â€˜An hour or so ago. When you were on your fifth pint.’
    I was beginning to wonder if the man had us bugged.
    â€˜Do we know who she was?’ Lenny again.
    â€˜No. Not yet. I’ve got two DCs and the uniforms out searching the area to see what they can find. She had no ID on her.’
    â€˜No bag?’ I asked.
    Grisham’s eyes moved to me. ‘Oh, it speaks,’ he said. ‘No. No bag.’
    â€˜Anyone in the frame?’ asked Lenny.
    â€˜No,’ Grisham said. ‘Not yet.’
    Collier got into the act. ‘You two,’ he said to Lenny and me, ‘get out and have a drive round. See if you can find anyone who fits the bill. And stay out of the pubs.’
    â€˜Yes, skip,’ said Lenny, and the phone rang.
    Grisham picked it up, barked his name into the receiver and listened. ‘Christ,’ he said. ‘Are you sure?’
    He listened again.
    â€˜Has anybody told him?’
    He was silent for another moment.
    â€˜Jesus,’ he said. ‘Why on our ground? OK. I’ll make sure he’s informed.’
    He put down the phone, and stood for a moment, before turning to face the three of us again.
    â€˜The girl who was raped. She’s been identified. Her name’s Carol Harvey.’
    No one said a word.
    â€˜She’s the daughter of a certain DI Harvey who’s stationed down in Purley. And if that’s not bad enough, she’s also the niece of our own dear detective superintendent, Alan Byrne. And she’s only fourteen, poor cow.’
    â€˜Christ!’ said Collier. ‘Are you sure?’
    â€˜Yes I am,’ replied Grisham. ‘Her face is pretty well knocked about, but one of the WPCs down at the hospital recognised her. She’s been here to see her uncle a few times.’
    â€˜And Mr Byrne doesn’t know?’ asked Collier.
    â€˜It’s my pleasant duty to inform him,’ said Grisham.
    Then he noticed me and Lenny, still standing there listening.
    â€˜What are you two doing?’ he shouted. ‘You’ve got a job to do. Get out and do it. I want a result on this yesterday.’

6
    Lenny and I went back to the car, and he drove slowly round Brixton. I was feeling lousy, and wanted another drink, but I knew that would have to wait.
    He spotted Sailor Grant outside a fish shop, eating chips out of a bag.
    â€˜Sailor,’ said Lenny.
    â€˜Who?’
    â€˜The little shithead there, eating his supper.’
    I