Tony Hill u Carol Jordan 08 - Cross and Burn

looked outraged. ‘You’ll get what’s there. Nothing more, nothing less.’
    ‘That’s all I want. But where there’s room for doubt, I expect your team to drop on the right side of the fence, Dr Myers. In times of financial constraints, we have to be sure we’re getting the best value in our forensic services, after all.’
    Dave looked murderous as he gathered his papers together. ‘I’ll email you a full report.’ He gave Paula a pained look as he turned for the door.
    Paula waited till she heard the snick of the catch close behind him. ‘There’s got to be a mistake,’ she said. ‘Nobody who knows Tony could imagine for a moment he could kill. And certainly not like this.’
    ‘Are you sure about that? Don’t they say the best profilers are the other side of the coin from the people they hunt?’
    ‘Only people who like to come up with lazy sound bites.’ Angry now, Paula didn’t much care whether she pissed off her boss. Getting her to see sense about Tony was more important. ‘Tony Hill has dedicated his working life to preventing this kind of crime. He’s about redemption and rehabilitation, not killing women.’
    ‘McIntyre, sit down.’ Fielding’s voice was firm but not hostile. Paula hadn’t even realised she was standing. ‘Put your personal feelings to one side and look at the evidence. His blood is on Nadia Wilkowa’s jacket. He limps with his left leg. He knows how to leave a body forensically clean. And the victims, Sergeant. The victims. They both look like DCI Jordan. Who, if I’m not mistaken, has shaken the dust of Tony Hill from her shoes along with the rest of us.’
    What Fielding said only made sense if you looked at the world reflected in a distorting mirror. But Paula could see how seductive that picture would be to senior officers keen for a quick arrest that the media would love. The wolf in sheep’s clothing, the gamekeeper turned poacher, the healer undone by his love for the woman who’d abandoned him. ‘And what if someone’s framing him somehow? What then? I don’t believe it.’
    Fielding rested her elbows on the desk and her chin on her fists. She appeared to be on the verge of asking a purely philosophical question. ‘I’d expected more from you than grasping at straws. But you’re entitled to that view, McIntyre, paranoid though it might seem to some. The question is, can you put it to one side and do your job?’
    Paula felt the hot flush of annoyance burn her cheeks. ‘It’s my job to bring the guilty to account. I’ve never let personal feelings stand in the way of that.’
    ‘You see, Sergeant, this is where you have to nail your colours to the mast. Can you concede that Dr Hill might be guilty? Can you commit to pursuing this investigation without your friendship getting in the way? Can you arrest and interrogate this man? If you can’t say yes to those questions, say yes and mean it, there’s no place for you on this case. There’s plenty of other crimes need a talented investigator. Plenty of other SIOs who could use a smart sergeant. But I can’t use somebody who’s a secret squirrel for the other side.’
    Even through her suppressed fury, Paula found a moment to wonder where this woman got her vocabulary from. Secret squirrel? What was that about? ‘I’ll do what’s necessary,’ she said, her voice thick with anger. ‘I’ll go where the evidence takes me. I’m not afraid of the truth.’
    Fielding gave her a long hard look, head cocked to one side, considering. ‘I think I believe you, McIntyre.’ She looked at her watch. ‘I want to do this quietly. No big media ruckus. Presumably you have Dr Hill’s phone number?’ Paula nodded. ‘What would bring him in here?’
    ‘A request for help.’
    ‘Perfect. There’s no way that can be construed as entrapment. Text him now. Tell him you need his help, ask him to come here.’
    Paula stared at her phone screen for a long moment then typed in, Need your help. Can you stop by Skenfrith Street later? She showed the screen to Fielding, who nodded. Paula sent the text. This is how Judas felt . She stood up. ‘I’ll get to work on Nadia’s diary. I’ll let you know as soon as he gets back to me.’
    She sat at the computer, the screen blurred and meaningless. Her stomach churned and her hands felt cold and clammy. She felt disloyal and disgusted, but the treachery she’d chosen at least had the virtue of keeping her on the front line. From this position, she was best