Sorcerer Read Free Page B

that ritual, sadistic abuse took place there and we want to get to the bottom of it’.
    ‘Well it’s news to me, Jeff’.
    ‘So you wouldn’t know why that injunction had been taken out?’
    ‘Detective Superintendent Barton, I’m not aware of any television programme or any injunction’.
    ‘So would you also say that Wiseman is lying, sir?’
    ‘It’s hard to give a definitive answer to that without having the full facts to consult’.
    ‘I can make sure you have them, sir, and then perhaps we can talk again?’
    Hayward regarded Jeff shrewdly. Of all the investigating officers under his command it would have to be Jeff Barton who’d been given a key into his past. He wouldn’t give up until he was satisfied he’d got to the truth. But Hayward couldn’t tell him anything without landing himself right in it up to his neck and further and there were others to consult before he could do that.
    ‘Well if there’s anything I can recall from all that time ago then I’ll be sure to tell you, Jeff’ said Hayward. ‘How is the investigation going, by the way?’
    ‘Slowly, sir’ Jeff replied. He was annoyed at having been fobbed off by his senior officer. What the Hell was Hayward hiding? They’d known each other a long time and there’d never been any whiff of scandal surrounding Hayward. ‘We’re looking at the staff records and at the record of residents. Sir, do you know someone called George Griffin?’
    ‘George Griffin?’ said Hayward. He spun the name round his consciousness until he could think of a convincing lie to disassociate himself from Griffin. He couldn’t think of one so he went for the basic. ‘No. Again, should I?’
    ‘He was manager of the care home when you were a beat officer, sir’
    ‘Well as you said it was a long time ago’ said Hayward who then shifted a little in his chair. ‘I can’t be expected to recall off the top of my head everyone on my beat at that time’.
    You lying bastard, thought Jeff. ‘My team need to speak to him because he was the manager at the time we estimate the victims to have died and he could provide us with vital evidence. Not to mention the allegations made by Ronnie Wiseman’. He decided to fire a warning shot across Hayward’s bows. ‘We want answers, sir, and we will get them’.  
    ‘I’ve no doubt given your previous record’ said Hayward a little sharply.
    Jeff then took the photograph of the toddler that had been found at Pembroke out of his pocket and handed it to the Superintendent.
    ‘Do you recognize this child, sir? The photograph was found amongst a pile of empty video cassette cases at Pembroke’.
    Jeff watched Hayward’s face contorting, not dramatically, but just enough for him to be able to notice. Hayward recognized the child alright. Jeff watched him rub his hand over his mouth and try desperately to think of a form of words to add to the already established pattern of denial.  
    ‘Sir?’
    ‘No’ said Hayward. He handed him the photograph back. ‘I don’t recognize him’.
    ‘Are you sure, sir?’
    ‘Jeff, what are you implying?’
    ‘I’m not implying anything, sir. I’m just doing my job’.
    ‘Well I’m afraid I have to leave now’ said Hayward. He stood up. ‘I’m due for a meeting with the chief constable so if you’ll excuse me’.
    Jeff was bristling with anger as he made for the door but then Hayward stopped him.
    ‘How are things, Jeff?’ he asked. ‘On a personal basis I mean? I know it’s getting on for a year since Lillie Mae died. I just wondered how you and little Toby were doing?’
    ‘We’ll get there, sir’ Jeff answered, unsure of where this was going. Why the sudden, deliberate shift to the personal? ‘It isn’t easy but we’ll get there’.
    ‘You must miss Lillie Mae very much’.
    ‘Well of course I do, sir’ said Jeff. What a stupid fucking question that was. ‘There’s a part of me that always will’.
    ‘I’m sure you’ll find happiness again,