Shadow Sins (DCI Wilson Book 2) Read Free

scandalised the blokes with the telescopes trained on our windows.”
    “Agreed. However, we’re going to have a little talk about you being broody about selling your house and moving in with me.”
    Wilson was putting on a tee-shirt and shorts when his mobile phone rang. He looked at the caller ID.
    “It’s Sunday and I’m off shift,” he said as he answered the phone.
    “Good morning to you, Boss,” Detective Constable Harry Graham’s voice came over the line.
    “You’re taking this acting Sergeant business too seriously Harry,” Wilson said. “As far as I’m aware you’re off shift too.”
    “Call out, Boss. A Catholic church was torched last night.”
    “And that concerns us how?”
    “The parish priest is missing.”
    “Maybe he torched it and ran?”
    “Doesn’t seem so.”
    “Then why are you calling me?”
    “The building is still too dangerous to enter and the Fire Service guys reckon it will take a few hours to sift through the rubble. Alarm bells are ringing about the missing priest if you know what I mean.”
    “Let’s not jump the gun. Get someone down to the church. Keep me informed.” He turned and saw Kate standing at the door. The woman must have Apache blood she could move so silently. He didn’t like the frown on her face.
    “Harry,” he said turning again to the phone.
    “Yes, Boss,” Graham said.
    “Only if it’s important. Got it.” He pressed the off button before Graham could reply.
    “Coffee’s ready,” Kate said from the door.
    “Great,” Wilson said.
    “And we can have that little talk,” Kate said smiling.
    Come into my parlour said the spider to the fly. Wilson had seen Kate in action. He was about to get the third degree but in the most pleasant way. The burned church didn’t even register on his radar.

CHAPTER 3
     
     
     
    Detective Constable Harry Graham stood just inside a strand of yellow crime-scene tape and watched the Fire Service personnel as they moved gingerly around the still smouldering building. The roof was almost totally collapsed and occasionally a loose slate would come crashing to the ground. The stone walls were still standing although scorched by the intense heat of the fire. However, some stones were dislodged at the point where the roof and the walls met. The Boss had said to send someone, but Harry knew the code. Although he was off shift, and he had promised his wife to spend the day with her and the kids at the grandparents, he knew that he was the ‘someone’ in question. Since George Whitehouse had died, the post of Sergeant in the Belfast Murder Squad had been left vacant. Harry was appointed acting Sergeant but at his constable’s salary. It was his misfortune that he had failed the sergeant’s exam the last time he had tried, so his only chance was to impress the brass and hope that something could be done the next time he put himself forward. That meant giving up his day off and incurring the wrath of his wife. He watched the Fire Service crew rewind the hoses that had doused the fire. Three fire tenders stood at different points around the church just in case embers reignited the fire or part of the building collapsed. Behind Harry’s back a small crowd gathered. They stood in silence watching the Fire Crew going about their business. Two black-clad priests moved among the gathering dispensing what he assumed to be words of comfort.
    “Any news, Chief?” Harry called to the Chief of the Fire Crew as he passed nearby. He showed his warrant card.
    “We’re making progress,’ the Fire Chief moved in his direction. “But some of the building is still unsafe so we’re taking our time. The arson investigator has been knocked up and should be here shortly. Looks like some little bastard has been practicing for Bonfire Night. “
    “It’s definitely a torch job then?”
    The Fire Chief looked over his shoulder at the burnt out building behind him. “What do you think?  I’m willing to bet it’s been torched but