When done report back to me and we will see where we go from there.”
At that moment proceedings were interrupted when the telephone rang.
May was walking past the door, stopped and called, it’s probably Sergeant Striker he has been calling you on and off all day”.
“Hello Mr Richards office”, said Doris.
“Mr Richards office my arse”, it was Striker balling down the phone.
“It’s the bloody museum, so say so you twit, now get your arse over here I have a proper job for you and whilst you are at it get this Richards fella in here the boss wants to see him”.
“Yes acting Inspector,” she replied.
Jack hearing the abuse shook his head but said nothing.
Doris replaced the telephone handset and as she did so Jack stretched forth his hand and said, “Please, the personal file of Ifor Evans, hand it here we don’t want that lying around, I will look after that.”
Doris handed him the file but before she could speak further Jack rose to leave with her for the police station, the real one next door.
When they arrived Striker was standing at the counter, he looked up and said, “Ling we need you to sit in on a female shop lifter from Tesco, you know what the security personnel there are like, bloody hopeless. Go through to the female cells, and get her out of the lockup into the interview room and sit with her till the tecs arrive”
Jack stood and recalled the word, “tecs”
Doris spoke, “the tecs who or whatever are they?”
“The bloody detectives girl don’t you know anything?”
“Dear God you are a thick sod. Learn girl, learn, for Christ’s sake”
Jack thought he had not heard the phrase tecs for many years how the hell Striker could think Doris would know it failed him.
“Ah, Richards the boss wants you. Said Striker, “Do you recall the way from your last visit or do you want a guide, if so we can get the stray dog out of the kennel and we have a white stick somewhere”
“I can find my way,” replied Jack! Thinking if I don’t put a stop to this obnoxious bastard I will eat my favourite hat”.
With that he settled, on this occasion for getting his thumb and lifting up the hat from the front so that it slipped onto the rear of his head.
He turned and left and as he did so, Striker called, “I will give him a buzz, the Chief I mean.”
Arriving at the door of the Chief Super, Jack knocked but did not have to wait for there was a buzzing noise and the new illuminated lamp on the door read, enter.
He did just that and on arrival inside, he saw Craig Denton-Smyth seated smiling with a stretched out hand.
“Welcome Jack, are you all right?” he laughed, “alright Jack, yes I am alright Jack, very funny” said Craig.
Jack walked across the room to find a chair already placed in front of the desk of Denton-Smyth.
“Please Jack, you don’t mind if I call you Jack, as we are colleagues once again”.
“By all means” replied Jack, “how can I help you today sir”?
“Well, you may not know this but I will be leaving for a while, I am on a course at Bramshill, the senior command course. I just need to get the odd thing sorted out.”
He opened a desk drawer and brought forth two blue folders which he then handed to Jack as he reached forward.”
“Thank you” said Jack as he took the files, he could see they were marked “Personnel records”
“I assume you will want these on the two dead officers, they arrived from headquarters by despatch transport today”.
“Thank you, these will be useful, I am aware they are for my eyes only,” replied Jack before being told.
“Yes quite” replied Denton Smyth adding “I have checked them over, nothing in them of value but still I thought to help by getting them here save you bothering HQ, they are so long winded getting anything done.”
“Thank you” replied Jack.
“Well there is another matter Jack. Inside the files, you will as one might expect see the addresses of the officers. I have taken the liberty of contacting the ladies involved and I can confirm they are aware you may wish to see them. They have been told your name and Ling of course so I will leave that with you”.
“Thank you sir, you have been very helpful and most efficient,” replied Jack.
“Yes well it comes with the job you know these days; all has changed since your day. Its all about the paper work and efficiency, these command courses help, its all laid out for the budding Chief Constable”.
Jack grasped it immediately; he appears to be going on a senior command course, a budding chief, more promotion and a move away for Craig it appeared.
“There is one thing. I might just ask Jack a small favour”
“Yes sir, if I can help of course”, replied the man in the hat for Jack suddenly realised he had not removed his hat and so did so immediately. This he saw caused Denton-Smyth to snigger, no, thought Jack that was unkind, he had only smiled.
“I wonder if, whilst I am away you might just get old May to give the office a dusting, I know it is a bit difficult me making her redundant but I don’t really want these cheap contract cleaners let loose in here whilst I am away. As the office will not be used, I have made Striker acting Inspector he can cope and from Ling’s office. This room will just need a dust occasionally”.
“That will be no problem at all sir, you can be assured I will get May on the case, so to speak”.
“Ah well done Jack I knew you would do it. By the way I know you have only just started on this after dinner entertainment night thing but have you anything to report?”
“Not a thing sir, not a thing”
“I was only saying to my wife I have a feeling I have been lumbered with this and I may well have egg on my face, I can’t detect a smell of a crime in it”.
“I agree Jack. Well the best of luck, not only with the case but updating the powers to be that you failed or worse rising to speak at the dinner with not a surprise to speak of, well I must get on”.
Jack realised that was his cue to leave, he rose and left.
Arriving downstairs he was about to leave when Striker called him “I hope you don’t require Ling again today. She will be tied up here for the rest of the day”
Jack turned, smiled but didn’t speak, he then left and as he did so he heard Striker whisper, “stupid old fogey, a has been”.
This caused Jack to smile for he realised he had caused Striker more aggravation by ignoring him than giving him the pleasure of a reply.
He arrived back at his office entered his room and as he did so he saw Sergeant Strutter Large and Constable Dog Breath Johnson standing at the door, they had it appears been awaiting his return.
He walked inside stood at his desk then turned, he saw both officers talking and giggling. He removed his hat lifted it and threw it as one did with a boomerang so that it landed on the head of Sergeant Large.
As Jack the hatless walked further inside he said, “Which ever of you smart arses removed my hat stand?”
“Put it back”.
He heard shuffling behind him and the hat stand was brought back and replaced in its original position.
Jack looked at both the officers then spoke
“Have you two loonies working in this never land any idea why you are here?”
“Before you speak”, he continued, “I will tell you. It is because you are idiots and crap coppers and they have shuffled you in here out of the way.”
“I will tell you this only once, read my lips. I am doing this job specifically at the request of the Home Secretary and the Inspector of Constabulary, a word from me to them you are impeding my enquiry and your feet won’t touch the floor.”
“Don’t think Denton-Smyth will save you; he is only interested in getting to the top himself.”
“In future keep your noses out of my business, keep you feet out of my office and don’t` fuck with me. Is that all clear enough for you?”