Dead Wrong. Noelle Holten
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took a sip of her coffee. ‘I’ve been meaning to have a proper catch-up, but if you say she’s stressed, then maybe I should leave it.’
‘I should be seeing her later. How about I tell her you’d like to catch-up? She has your number, right? She can call you then when she is a little less under pressure.’
‘Sounds good.’ Looking at her watch, Maggie knew if she didn’t get the next train back to Stafford, she would miss the opportunity to talk to her contact in the CPS. ‘Right. It’s been lovely, but I need to get back.’ After hugging them, Maggie picked up her bag and headed to the train station.
I have a few questions and there’s no way I am going to let the prosecution service wriggle out of answering them …
Arriving in Stafford, Maggie stopped at the Starbucks in the station and grabbed an Americano. She hadn’t been sleeping well and needed more caffeine in her system to face the long shift she had ahead of her today.
The courts were busy when she arrived. Maggie made her way to the CPS offices and was greeted by one of those receptionists whose smile never reaches her eyes.
‘Can I help you?’ Maggie cringed at the sound of the receptionist’s whiny voice. She barely glanced at Maggie before returning to her computer.
‘Please could I speak to the prosecutor in Bill Raven’s case?’
There was a long pause as the receptionist continued typing on her keyboard. Eventually she paused and looked up. ‘Do you have an appointment?’
Maggie had to take a deep breath. ‘No. I’m with the police – DC Maggie Jamieson.’ She reached into her pocket and took out her card, thunked it hard on the counter.
As if it was contaminated, the woman moved the card closer with two fingers. ‘I’m afraid you still need an appointment. We’re very busy.’
Maggie looked around at the empty hallway. She gripped the desk and her knuckles began to whiten. ‘I don’t need long. Can you just call up and see if he has a few minutes … please?’ Maggie returned the fake smile she got earlier.
‘Well … I’ll try. But I wouldn’t hold your breath.’ The woman punched three numbers onto her telephone keypad and looked at her nails while she waited. ‘Good morning, sir, I have a DC Maggie Jamieson here and she said she’d like a quick word. Do you have time?’ Again, she looked at her nails, and Maggie wished she could hear the other side of the conversation. ‘Hmm … uh huh … OK. Yes, I’ll tell her.’
Maggie straightened her blouse, waiting for the woman to buzz her through.
‘I’m sorry. He’s very busy. He can’t see you today but suggested that you make an appointment and he’ll talk to you then.’ She looked down at an open diary. ‘I have a free slot next Thursday then another—’
‘Never mind. I’ll catch him another time. Thank you for trying.’ Maggie did her best to contain her anger. She’d never had a problem speaking to the prosecutor before; he always made time to see her. What the hell was going on?
The woman responded with her fake smile again. ‘OK, thanks for coming by. Have a nice day.’
Maggie clenched her fists as she left the office. She wondered if DI Rutherford had warned him not to speak with her.
The ten-minute walk around to Stafford Police Station served to make a slight dent in her anger. She needed to keep it in check. Although she respected her boss, there was an air of condescension about her that ruffled more than just Maggie’s feathers.
Maggie climbed the stairs to the second floor and chucked her jacket over her chair. Just as her computer booted up, DI Rutherford called her over to her office.
‘Yes, ma’am. Coming.’ Maggie let out a sigh and slouched over, opened the door and took a seat in front of Rutherford’s desk.
‘Maggie. Did you have a good morning?’
‘I did. I had a few hours before my shift started and went across to Markston.’
‘Yes … I heard. Did you stop by anywhere else? And Maggie, think about your answer.’ The DI glared as she tapped her desk. Maggie sat up in the chair and noticed the dark lines of exhaustion on Rutherford’s face.
So, she had spoken to the prosecutor. ‘Yes, ma’am. I stopped by the courts. I wanted to speak to the CPS, to see if they had anything useful for the current investigation.’
‘Ah. Just for the current investigation then? You know, if I find out you’re doing anything to jeopardize this case – like going on a wild goose chase against Raven, for instance – I’ll have your head on a plate.’
‘Yes.’
‘We have a briefing in an hour and I expect you to be there, focused, having left your views on Raven outside the room. Do you understand?’ DI Rutherford gave her a look that was more than a warning – it was a threat.
‘I do. May I go now? I’ve a lot to do before the briefing.’
‘Of course. And Maggie …’
‘Yes?’
‘Someone from the CCRC wants to speak with you today at 4 p.m. Don’t be late.’ The DI sighed as she looked towards the ceiling.
Maggie responded through gritted teeth. ‘I won’t, ma’am. Thank you.’
She turned abruptly on her heels and left the room. Touching the base of her neck, Maggie squeezed and felt the tension release. At her desk, Maggie took her keys out of her pocket and opened the cabinet that was tucked underneath. Fingering through the files, she went to the very back and pulled out the one labelled ‘THE CHOPPER’.
DI Rutherford had said to leave her thoughts out of the room – she didn’t specify which room.
After going through her private file on the original Chopper case, Maggie sat back to gaze out of the window. DI Rutherford had a bite that would scare off even the most hardened criminal, but she was also the loudest to cheer and give praise to those who deserved it. Maggie had heard rumours that she was in the midst of a second divorce after she found her husband cheating on her. Apparently, he couldn’t cope with the long hours she put in at the office which left little time to think about starting a family. It was no wonder her boss looked tired. With everything that was going on in her personal life and now the CCRC scrutinizing the original case file … Maggie’s shoulders tightened. The MOCD’s reputation – her own reputation – could be on the line.
‘Penny for your thoughts.’ She looked up and saw DS Nathan Wright.
‘Sorry Nathan, I was miles away. Just thinking about the review commission and what they might find.’ Maggie cleared her throat.
‘Don’t worry. You worked hard on that case and you’re meticulous. There’s no way you screwed this up, trust me.’ He gave her shoulder a squeeze.
‘I wish I had your faith. I worked some ridiculously long hours at the time. What if I missed something?’ Maggie swallowed.
‘The CPS agreed that the evidence pointed at Raven. You didn’t prosecute the case, the CPS did, so if there are any doubts, it should be them that needs to worry. If they had any questions about the evidence, it was down to them to get the answers.’
‘When did you become so wise?’ Maggie smiled.
He shrugged and gave Maggie’s shoulder another reassuring squeeze, then walked back to his desk.
Maggie pulled up