Shadow Sins (DCI Wilson Book 2) Read Free Page A

let’s wait for the experts to call it for definite.”
    “Any news on the priest?” Harry said.
    “No, but I can tell you if he was in the middle of the conflagration, there won’t be a lot to find. You’re not from the normal Plods.”
    “No, Murder Squad. Can you tell your lads not to muck about in there? There’ll be hell to pay if the forensics get messed up.”
    The Chief of the Fire Crew moved close to Graham’s face. “Are you some kind of bloody comedian? My lads are in there risking life and limb, and you want them to pussy foot about to preserve your forensic. If the missing priest is inside, then he’s toast and so is your precious evidence. Now stay back until we give you the word that it’s safe.”
    Graham watched as the Chief of the Fire Crew hustled off in the direction of the church. DCI Wilson would be apoplectic if the priest was inside and the forensic evidence was compromised. He slipped under the crime scene tape and made his way back to his car. There was no point in standing around like a spare prick at a ball. It was time to give his wife a call and see how the visit to the grandparents was going.
     
     
    The body was found at precisely 1:45 in the afternoon, and Graham noted as much in his daybook. The Chief of the Fire Crew provided him with a hard hat and led him into what was left of the church. The body consisted of a heap of elongated burnt remains that was barely discernible as what was once a human being. It was located at the rear of the church almost where the last pew would have been situated. Pieces of charred wood that had once been the pews surrounded the body. Graham looked up and saw that every window in the church was blown out. The roof was entirely gone, and only the scorched interior walls remained.
    “The Fire Investigator’s been and gone,” the Fire Chief said looking down at the body. “It appears that the fire started right here. The accelerant was poured over the priest and the pews beside him, and that’s what set the whole church off.“
    Graham made a note in his book and walked slowly around the burnt body. It would be a murder investigation and the forensics would be a screw-up.
    “Thanks,” Graham said. “I’ll call the Station and get the forensics team here as soon as possible. We’ll need to talk to you and your people. And you better tell the Investigator that we’ll need a complete report on the source of the fire. Tell him we’d be grateful if he could include any ideas about the culprit. For instance, is there any specific about the M.O.?”
    “Will do,” the Chief said. “Now, if you’re finished here I’d prefer if you’d leave. We’re still trying to make the area safe.” He saw the frown on Graham’s face. “Don’t worry we’ll try to be done by the time the forensics people arrive.”

CHAPTER 4
     
     
     
    Wilson was having one of those idyllic Sunday mornings. After breakfast, he had slipped out to the local shop and bought four of the main papers, two broadsheets and two tabloids. He returned to the apartment where he and Kate spent the next two hours perusing the papers and watching the BBC’s political programme. At one o’clock, they made their way to Villa Italia, their favourite eatery in the University area of South Belfast.  They’d arrived at their main course when Wilson felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Since he wasn’t expecting any calls, he knew it had to be Harry, and consequently, he knew it had to be bad news.
    He dropped his fork into his plate of Linguini Scoglio and removed his phone from his pocket. A quick glance at Kate’s face told him she did not appreciate the interruption. He made his ‘sorry face’ as he checked the caller ID.
    “Harry,” he said simply as he answered the call.
    “Boss, I really didn’t want to do this,” Graham sounded nervous but excited on the other end of the call. “We’ve found a body in the rubble of the church. I think that we may have found the