Tony Hill u Carol Jordan 08 - Cross and Burn

‘However, matters have been resolved very quickly. I hope we can put it all behind us.’ He steepled his fingers and gave an avuncular smile. ‘Then it will all die down and reputations won’t be unduly damaged.’
    ‘I don’t think you understand,’ Scott said. ‘We’re looking for substantial compensation here. Wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and damage to Dr Hill’s professional reputation. This is a major lawsuit, Mr Blake.’
    Blake made a strangled mumbling sound. ‘There hasn’t been any significant publicity,’ he pointed out.
    ‘We haven’t given our side of the story yet,’ Scott said sweetly. ‘We have an extraordinary tale to tell. A man of spotless reputation is thrown in the cells on the scantest of evidence. The police are so incompetent that I have to turn to a retired officer for help. And within twenty-four hours, we civilians not only destroy the case against Dr Hill but also expose the identity of the real killer. I imagine this one will run and run across the traditional and the digital media.’
    Tony sat up straight, galvanised by this unexpected turn of events. To judge by the expression of shock that had crossed Blake’s face, he hadn’t expected that line of attack either. He looked like a man staring down the barrel of the end of his career. ‘That’s a shocking distortion of the facts,’ he blustered.
    ‘In what respect?’
    Tony could tell Blake was on the point of closing the meeting, which wasn’t what he wanted. He had an agenda of his own, and now was the time to pursue it. He cleared his throat and said, ‘There is one way to avoid a costly and embarrassing lawsuit.’
    They both swung round in their seats to stare at him. ‘I don’t think this is a good idea,’ Scott said.
    ‘Of course you don’t,’ Tony said. ‘You’re a lawyer. Conflict’s your bread and butter. James, there’s no denying that this has not been BMP’s finest hour. I believe this whole debacle would never have happened if the MIT had still been up and running. When Carol Jordan’s brother was killed, you shouldn’t have let her go. You should have clasped her to your bosom and helped her through it, not cut her loose.’
    ‘DCI Jordan had handed in her resignation before that happened. Which you very well know, Dr Hill.’ Blake was like a dog with its hackles up.
    ‘It doesn’t matter. You should have taken care of her. But it’s not too late. It’s obvious from what’s happened here that she’s still got what it takes to make a difference. Here’s the deal. You go to Carol Jordan and you offer her whatever it takes to get her back on board. I’m not saying you have to eat dirt and publicly reinstate the MIT. But you bring Carol back and find a way to put that team back together, and you’ll hear no more about this.’ He smiled at them both. Scott looked ready to thump him.
    Blake, however, had the air of a man reprieved. ‘What if she says no?’
    Tony gave an apparently guileless smile. ‘You need to make sure she doesn’t.’

67

    Day twenty-nine

    W hen she finally got home and read Paula’s message about Marie Mather, Carol’s first instinct had been to pour herself a drink. But instead of knocking back the very large vodka in a oner, she sat staring at the glass for a long time. She took off her jacket and slung it over a hanger, then gave the glass her full attention. Stepping back into the world had given her pause. There was nothing wrong with what she was doing here in the barn. But she’d let that become an end in itself and the past few days had shown her that wasn’t enough.
    She’d only been on the periphery of the investigation but that had been enough to remind her that she had a talent for justice. Not to exercise that talent was wrong. Not just because of the end result; the lives that would be changed because she wasn’t there to do what she was best at. But because it was bad for her to ignore the things she was good at, the things she could be proud of.
    If she carried on like this, Jacko Vance would have scored the ultimate victory. He’d set out on his campaign of vengeance with the aim of making her life not worth living. She hadn’t been able to see past her grief to understand how well he’d succeeded. But the last few days had helped her to comprehend what had happened to her.
    If she carried on like this, Jacko Vance would have won.
    It wasn’t only her professional life that had been poisoned by his actions. He’d