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Miller H Caldwell, click here
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Chapter 20
Chapter 20
The Repercussions
As Superintendent Graham poured himself a strong 4.8 % can of dark beer to the strains of his Saturday night Match of the Day opening theme, his thoughts returned to the day’s events.
Had only the weather been drier, the game would not have been cancelled and the demonstration would have gone off without a hitch. It was a fine line between a peaceful Muslim demonstration and instant conflagration. The press and TV coverage took only one view. The conflagration. He stroked his black Labrador and took another sip. Watford had just scored the first goal and his focus was now on the televised match.
Tony spent Sunday afternoon at his office all on his own, tidying up papers, sorting out his next week’s cases and reports and binning, shredding and shelving other articles. He did so to the strains of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Playing was La Primavera No 1 Spring in E major. Classic FM was his default station as he was a morning Radio 4 riser while radio 2 quietly played in his waiting room for his clients.
Three hours later looking out of his office into the dwindling light he noticed car lights drive up and park. They lights were extinguished. Footsteps approached. Tony was alerted to the visitor and made his way through from his room to the open reception area. Then Tony recognised who it was.
‘I saw your light was on when I was passing. Didn’t know you worked weekends.’
‘I don’t usually Paul. Come in.’
‘To be honest I wanted to see you.’
‘Well, grab a seat. I’m here,’ Tony said waving his hand towards the rocking chair in his room.
‘I’ve not been on one of these for a long time,’ Paul said with a quiet chuckle.
‘So what’s on your mind?’
Paul took in a deep breath, held it for a moment then exhaled.
‘It’s not easy to say. I’ve lost my faith completely and I’ve been having pains.’
‘You told me you had seen your GP?’
‘Yes, I have.’
The hush filled the room. Tony waited a moment longer in silence.
‘I’ll have to give up playing in the group.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes very sure. I was sent for tests. Testicular and rectal cancer and both are aggressive.’
Tony’s eyebrows tightened. His expression was sincere. ‘I’m very sorry Paul. How are you coping?’
‘I need to simply my life. No band music, no church attendance, just reflection and getting my things in order.’
‘Can I ask how long you have known about this?’
‘Almost two weeks now.’
‘Shortly after Farook’s murder or around then?’
Paul hesitated. His mind was engaged.
‘Yes, about a couple of days after his murder. I do hope they get who did it soon. It’s taking the police so long.’
‘Don’t you worry about that Paul.’
‘Well, there’s not much more I can say.’
Tony nodded in agreement. ‘Do you have more hospital appointments?
‘Oh appointments, yes loads. Not at the hospital.I have to call the McMillan nurses whenever I want. The hospital can do little now.’
Tony stood up and went over to Paul placing his hand on his shoulder and tapping it a few times. ‘I can see why Lizzie could not understand your position.’
Paul smiled. ‘She is a well meaning lass. I just could not tell her the truth.’
Tony sat down again with a solemn face. ‘Do you have close friends to be with you?’
‘My friends were the Salvationists. We were a happy band. I married the movement not a woman.’
‘So no-one other than the McMillan nurses to tend you?’
‘And when they tell me it’s hospital, that’s the end.’
Tony went to his bookcase. He selected a book.
‘I was tidying up the office when you arrived, sorting out things. I’m not always reading textbooks you know. Some are simply rib tickling. Here, have this book Paul. It’s one of the funniest I have ever read,’
Paul received the book and read its back cover first. He smiled. ‘The General danced at Dawn. It sounds good, sounds prophetic too.’
Tony interpreted his remark as being dark. It was not the mood appropriate for departing.
‘Do you want me to keep in touch?’
Paul looked up as if a light bulb had been switched on. He smiled. ‘Yes, I’d like that. Come visit me in hospital won’t you?’
‘Of course I will Paul. I’ll let the McMillan nurses know so they can keep me informed.’
Paul nodded his agreement and stood up. He looked at his book once more and smiled. He tapped it against his left hand palm and made for the door.
‘Thanks Tony. For all you have done for me.’
Paul was out of the room and heading towards his car as Tony still could not find appropriate parting words.
Monday was a bright sunny morning. Superintendent Graham was reading through the police report of Saturday’s incident when the phone rang. His secretary informed him that Chief Superintendent David Rae of the Scottish Police had arrived from Glasgow. He lay down his report. As he made for the door, it opened and Mr Rae made straight for the seat in front of the superintendant’s desk. There were no conventional formalities.
‘It’s more than two weeks since this murder investigation started and just over a week since the explosion at the crematorium. You have made no progress, have you?’
The superintendent realised he was in for a toasting. He began his defence.
‘I don’t think you know how strong the Muslim feelings are around this case? They have not been very co-operative.’
‘You’d be upset too if you were Muslim.’
‘I don’t think so. We have a fingerprint to go on in the explosion case and we are hoping if we can make that match, we’ll almost certainly get the murderer too.’
‘Pie in the sky, Mr Graham. What you have done is alienate the Muslim community on a hunch and caused a demonstration and a mass disturbance.’
‘I am here to relieve you of your post Mr Graham. From now on I will be in charge of this double investigation. You, Superintendent Graham are demoted to Inspector. I will make this a force announcement in ten minutes. I leave you to gather your things from this room. I will take over in half an hour when I will address all senior ranks. I suggest Mr Graham, you cover for them when I speak to them.’
The superintendent was in shock. Could he accept his demotion? He resolved to utter one last volley at his superior.
‘If the needle is in a haystack; there is no need to look in the field. We had identified the most likely source of the offender.’
‘You just don’t get it. Do you? You should have arranged to see the finger prints of all men in the community from 18-30 years of age. That way you would not be targeting the Muslim community. That way you would have had no demonstration; no pitched battle as the press and TV are calling it.’
‘Chief Superintendent Rae. You will find my investigation team top notch. They will be devastated to learn of this encounter but I can save your embarrassment if you have any. I tender my resignation forthwith.’
Mr Graham unclipped his black tie and threw it down on his desk. His thirty eight years of policing had come to an abrupt end.
Mr Rae lifted the self clipping tie and threw it at him as he made for the door,
‘Here, keep it. You might be going to a funeral one day.’
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Web Site:
A Clerical Murder
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The opening threw me. Unless you mean by "strong" a tall can of dark beer, there is nothing strong about 4.8% alcohol content. If he had poured a hefty snifter of scotch or Irish whiskey he would have been pouring at least 40% alcohol content, nearly 8 times stronger. ;-)
Ron