Church placed his chair back against the wall and glanced at Jane as he walked past her. She seemed anxious and was twisting her hands in her lap. Crowley would have to put more pressure on her. He went into an adjoining office to take the call.
‘Guv, it’s Stanley… Something’s cropped up that you need to be aware of.’
Church sat on the edge of a desk and listened as Stanley spoke.
‘Listen, we have a problem. The uniformed duty sergeant at Paddington Green Police Station just rang the office. His uniformed lads just arrested Tennison’s flatmate, Pearl Radcliff, and she’s being held for questioning. She gave WDC Tennison’s address and her name to vouch for her. When they asked her where Tennison worked she said in Woolwich at a lab, but thought it was a bit “hush-hush”. Paddington’s duty sergeant checked with police records who told them Tennison was attached to our squad—’
‘What’s Radcliff been nicked for?’
‘He wouldn’t tell me, just said to inform you as Tennison’s boss… and they want access to her flat.’
‘Tennison’s here with me… I’ll speak with the duty sergeant for more information and inform Crowley.’
He was just about to replace the receiver, but Stanley hadn’t finished. ‘I think Tennison’s a liability, Guv.’
‘What?’
Stanley gave DCI Church the details of Tennison’s interaction with the Vice Squad raid. Church listened without interruption as Stanley made it clear that Jane’s actions had placed the operation, and Regina, in jeopardy.
‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this. I told Tennison not to get involved and she blatantly disobeyed me!’
‘I think, Guv, she was maybe in a very emotional state, having just left St Thomas’ Hospital after Daphne Millbank’s death. But now, with the Radcliff situation as well, I felt that you should know.’
‘Thanks, Stanley.’ Church hung up, then called the duty sergeant at Paddington and after a brief conversation went back to Crowley’s office.
Jane was looking through a fresh selection of surveillance shots.
‘I’d like to speak with you alone,’ Church said to Crowley.
‘Jane, go and get a coffee while I speak with DCI Church,’ said Crowley.
‘Meet me outside reception in ten minutes,’ Church said sharply to Jane.
She gathered up her things and left the room, puzzled as to why she was being dismissed so abruptly. As soon as she left the room Church told Crowley about his conversation with Stanley regarding Pearl Radcliff.
‘For fuck’s sake, who is this Pearl woman and how much does she know about our investigation?’
‘She’s been living with Tennison for a few days. She’s been arrested for shoplifting. I told the duty sergeant at Paddington to hold her for questioning by your team. It gets worse, though. Last night Tennison managed to screw up a big job the Vice Squad took over from us.’
‘She’s a bloody loose cannon!’ Crowley exclaimed. ‘What on earth does she think she’s playing at?’
‘Paddington want to search her address. They suspect Radcliff may have more stolen gear there. I told them not to force entry and I’ll take Tennison there now to let them in.’
‘Well, give her a good grilling on the way. I want to know everything she’s said to this Pearl from the moment she met her… chapter and verse!’
‘That was already my intention,’ Church said and left the room.
Carrying her plastic cup of coffee, Jane went down to the Scotland Yard reception area to wait for DCI Church. When he arrived, he was abrupt and told her to follow him. As they were driving away in his battered car, Jane, her hands cupped tightly around her coffee, asked anxiously, ‘Is this to do with last night and my interaction with Regina Hernandez?’
Church frowned. ‘Why don’t you tell me about that?’
‘Last night, heading home from the hospital after Daphne Millbank’s death, I was on the bus when I saw Regina Hernandez. She was ducking and diving like a tart and it really upset me because we were supposed to protect her. So I got off the bus to approach her and I inadvertently interrupted a Vice Squad officer taking her into custody.’
Church closed his eyes for a brief moment. Jane had a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach. She had been warned not to get on the wrong side of DCI Church and she knew she was on it.
He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles went white.
‘I warned you to keep your nose out of the Hernandez situation, Tennison. Not once, but twice! I told you the Vice Squad were now handling the case. I don’t care if you have some emotional compassionate attachment to this young girl but she is now missing and the Vice Squad don’t know where she is. If Andres Hernandez discovers she agreed to testify against him we could find her body in a dumpster. If that happens, it’ll be on your head!’
Jane could feel her eyes brimming with tears.
‘Please don’t waste my time answering — and I assure you your tears will not help you in any way. If there wasn’t a more pressing issue to deal with right now, I would have you back in uniform directing fucking traffic.
‘Oh, and you may wonder why we’re driving back to your place. Your flatmate has been arrested… she gave your name and address to vouch for her.’
‘What?’ Jane was so shocked that she spilt some of her coffee over her skirt.
‘I had no choice but to tell Crowley about this: she also knew you currently worked in Woolwich and said it was “hush-hush”.’
‘Oh, my God — how? What has she been arrested for?’
‘She was caught nicking a book from Smith’s in the High Street.’
‘A book? Is this a joke? I mean, I know she’s always coming home with books but surely it must have been a mistake? She probably just forgot to pay for it… I mean, it must have just been an oversight.’
‘Well, we’ll see. You were uptight this morning about her snooping in your bedroom, and always asking you questions… Did you tell her you worked at Woolwich?’
‘I may have…,’ she replied, trying to catch her breath as Church concentrated on manoeuvring through the traffic, swearing at the congestion.
‘The local uniforms are waiting to gain entry to your flat for a search. I’ve given instructions to keep Radcliff in custody. Crowley will want to interview her in case the investigation’s been compromised.’
By the time they drew up outside Jane’s flat her nerves were in shreds. Two uniformed officers were waiting and as soon as Jane joined them they headed up to the top floor. Jane unlocked her front door and Church told her to sit in the kitchen whilst they searched Pearl’s bedroom.
Jane tipped her cold coffee down the sink and took a wet cloth to wipe down her skirt. Church stood in the doorway.
‘She’s got a room full of books. Half of them have been nicked from libraries, they’re knee-deep in there. Are you telling me that you weren’t suspicious? I mean, they’re stacked all around her bed in every available space.’
‘I knew she was always bringing books home, but I didn’t think she was stealing them.’
‘Well, the one she was caught nicking was the Guinness Book of Records. After what we’ve found, she might make it into the next one!’
Jane sat in the kitchen whilst the officers carried out books to the hallway, ready for them to be taken away as evidence. Church said he was going to Paddington to see Crowley and Stanley was coming over to sit with her. The uniforms had made a thorough search of Pearl’s room and found nothing else incriminating, but they also wanted to look in Jane’s bedroom and the loft.
Jane felt humiliated. She offered to make tea, but everyone declined. A uniformed officer brought in some flat cardboard boxes to assemble and fill with books. Stanley arrived about an hour later. He was his usual scruffy self and said very little to Jane as he assisted the uniformed officers separate the library books from others that might have been stolen from elsewhere. After another hour, the boxes were carried out to a paddy wagon to be taken to the property store at Paddington. Stanley came back to sit in the kitchen and have a cup of tea with Jane.