“To what end?”
“They never said but I know they don’t like each other.”
“That much is true. What did you ask when you went to see Tommy Jay?”
“Like I said, for a job. I reckon Peters thought they’d either laugh me out of the place or take me on. Don’t think he were that bothered which.”
“What about Gerald Trainer? Did Peters have anything to do with that?”
“No, definitely not,” Harry said firmly.
“What makes you so sure?”
“He asked me all about it. Called me in the next day to find out what I knew. Wanted to know who was working, even which police came down, so I had to tell him about you pair. Sorry,” he sniffed by way of apology.
“That doesn’t mean he didn’t do it,” Joseph pointed out.
“Yeah, true,” Harry shrugged. “I don’t know then. I just believe him I guess.”
“You know, we’re going to need you to tell us more, make a proper statement down at the station. We’re going to have to look into the things you tell us. You might get into trouble. You might lose your job. You know Mr Nadderley isn’t going to be happy?”
Harry looked away from Ray, the enormity of the situation getting to him.
“Yeah, probably. Probably going to get another kicking or worse.” Already Joseph could see Harry talking himself out of it.
“We’ll make sure that can’t happen,” Ray lied.
“Okay,” Harry sounded defeated. “Do we have to go now?”
“I reckon the sooner the better, don’t you?”
“Am I going to be arrested?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe.”
“Oh Lord.” The tears flowed freely now. He tried to compose himself. In a moment he knew he’d be walking past his mother and the rest of his family, knowing that they would feel nothing but shame. In places like this, the police escorting him out would be the sort of gossip that spread quickly. It would probably reach the ears of Christopher Peters before too long as well. Joseph hoped Ray really did have a plan to help Harry as they both stood and headed for the door.
*
The desk sergeant took Harry’s particulars whilst Ray and Joseph headed to the kitchen to make the three of them a cuppa and strategise.
“What do you think?” Ray filled a teapot from the large urn that stood on the side of the kitchen.
“I think Harry’s in a lot of trouble. I think we’re the least of it.” Whatever legal ramifications Harry might face, Peters could do far worse.
“You don’t think he’s involved in the killing then?” Ray asked as he took three mugs from the cupboard.
“No,” Joseph said honestly. “I think we’ve broken him.”
“Yeah,” Ray agreed. “Got to be honest, I didn’t think he’d be brave enough to squeal on Peters. Got to give him credit there.”
“No, me either,” Joseph agreed. “I’d say it’s a toss-up over which is worse. A life inside or a life looking over your shoulder. He’s already lost so much. I can’t imagine he’s holding out anything else. Are we going to charge him?”
Ray shrugged and looked at the cups of tea and for the first time, Joseph sensed something verging on discomfort from his partner. “We’ll charge him if he confesses to anything we can charge him with,” he said noncommittally.
“Really?” Joseph said in shock. Ray Cribbs didn’t normally give leeway to people who’d done the wrong thing. They had to face the consequences. Perhaps the severity of all the different consequences that Harry might face played on Ray’s mind, as it did on his.
“I wish we could help him,” Joseph ventured, hoping to strike a chord with Ray’s softer side.
Ray sighed. “He should have helped himself,” he said, stirring the tea in the pot and replacing the lid. “It’s not on us to be arbiters. We just investigate. With a bit of luck, we investigate everything thoroughly enough, then he’ll only have to worry about the courts and not anyone else.”
“And if anyone else does decide to come after him?”
“We can’t watch him forever. Not our job. Don’t get me wrong, it would be a real bonus to catch one of Peters’ mob in the act and keep Harry safe. But we’re not in the habit of babysitting people or setting traps. He’ll just have to deal with what happens next and hope that it turns out well for himself.”
“I’m sorry, sirs.” WPC Small leant around the door frame, her voice apologetic as she interrupted them. “Phone call for you. Mr Campbell, London Fire Brigade.”
“You want to take it? I’ll pop down to Harry with these.” Ray picked up the mugs, catching Joseph completely off guard. He had naturally assumed it would be him doing the waitering duty.
“Of course,” he barely managed to stammer the reply before Ray made his way past him with the teas.
“Good-oh, I’ll see you down there shortly.”
He made his way past WPC Small who then turned and smiled at Joseph. “Come on then,” she said. “Can’t keep Mr Campbell waiting.”
*
“Detective Walsh, thank you for taking my call,” Campbell said once Joseph had announced himself. “I have a little bit of news. Something that we missed at first but I’m happy to share with you now.”
