Double Dealing (Detective Sergeant Catherine Bishop Series Book Two) Read Free

them both, but he’s still in hospital. The muggings – that started before you went away,’ Catherine nodded. ‘Well, there was another one, got away with a new iPhone and a wallet full of cash this time. Same crap description: slim bloke, hooded top, nasty-looking knife. We’ve got a picture from the CCTV, but it’s useless at best. And the rest . . . well, as I say, ongoing cases.’ He grinned. ‘Bet you’re delighted to be back.’
      ‘Have I been away?’
    Kendrick picked up a pen up from his desktop and tapped it against his teeth as he studied her.
      ‘How are you feeling?’ he asked eventually.
    Catherine looked away, over at the bedraggled pot plant that sat on the top of a blue metal filing cabinet, then at the blind that was higher at one end than the other. Finally, her gaze to fell to her lap.
      ‘I’m okay, thanks. Better.’
      ‘The Super’s been asking after you too, wanting to know how you’ve been.’
      ‘That’s . . . that’s kind of her.’
    Kendrick lowered his voice a little.
      ‘There’s been nothing in the press, by the way. The Pollard case is over, closed. I know you want to come back to work and just get on with it, and I think that’s for the best. The Paul Hughes case is still ongoing, but . . . I told the Super I thought your leave would have done you the world of good.’
      ‘And it has.’ Her voice was firm.
      ‘Good. Well, I’m sure you’ll have a thousand and one lovely emails to catch up on . . .’
    Catherine took the hint and got to her feet.
      ‘No doubt. Thank you, sir, for the support when . . . you know.’
    Kendrick waved her away, not quite able to hide his smile.
     
     
      Catherine worked through her inbox, reading a few emails and deleting the rest. She didn’t seem to have been missed too much. Picking up her mobile phone, she scrolled through the contacts until she reache d ‘Claire Weyton’ . She stared at the screen, knowing she should delete it. Claire was gone. Sipping tea, she brooded. Two uniformed constables who were standing at the other end of the room chatting cast a few glances in her direction. Catherine fought the urge to march up and confront them, but she knew it was futile. She would have to accept the fact that, for a while at least, she would be the talk of the station.
      When she’d finished her tea she dialled the number for the Force Headquarters on the outskirts of Lincoln and asked for DI Foster. After a few clicks, his voice, bluff and belligerent, echoed in her ear.
      ‘DS Bishop? What do you want?’
    She hesitated, taken aback by his aggressive tone.
      ‘Good afternoon, sir. I’d like to talk to you about the case we were . . .’
    He interrupted with a sound of contempt.
      ‘Would you? Didn’t you do enough damage the first time around?’
      ‘Pardon?’
      ‘You know what I mean. You arsed up months of surveillance.’
    She laughed, not quite believing what she was hearing.
      ‘Are you joking? Anyone who was in that house disappeared long before we arrived on the scene.’
      ‘Not the only cock-up you’ve made recently, though that’s not the right phrase to use where you’re concerned, is it?’ Foster gave a nasty laugh and Catherine could hear voices in the background joining in. Her cheeks flushed and she gripped the receiver.
      ‘I just wanted to see if I could help.’
      ‘We don’t want or need your help, Sergeant. Leave it to those who actually know what they’re doing. ’
    He slammed down the phone and Catherine was left still holding the receiver to her ear. The venom in Foster’s voice had shocked her, causing a tiny chink in the armour she’d pulled on since Claire’s death. They obviously all knew the full story over at Headquarters. Claire had worked there of course; she had only been in Northolme for a few short weeks as part of another assignment. Catherine felt shaken; Foster’s knowing, mocking tone had uncovered old memories, thoughts and