Helen stared at the ID but couldn’t take it in. “Anti-Corruption?”
“Exactly, and we have a warrant to search your flat.”
Helen snatched the piece of paper from Lawton’s hand and scanned it, searching for details of the who, what, why. Predictably it was bland and uninformative. “Why are you here? What are you looking for?”
The searching officers didn’t even bother to respond to that one.
“I am currently running a major investigation. I don’t know what youthinkyou’re doing, but I can assure you that Hampshire Police are going to kick you all the way back to whatever hole you—”
“Cool your boots, DI Grace. We know who you are and what you’re up to. But know this—it was one of your own lot that called us in, so perhaps you could let us get on with our job and save the abuse for someone else?”
With a scowl, Lawton turned back to the task in hand. Helen stood stock-still, reeling from this latest revelation. She was none the wiser as to their intent, but now at least it was clear to her who was ultimately responsible.
92
“You have no right do this. Whatever has happened between us in the past, you have no right to spread lies about me.”
An incandescent Helen faced Ceri Harwood across her desk. “I’m going to make an official complaint to Fisher—”
“What makes you think I’ve been telling lies?” Harwood replied coolly. Helen was unnerved by her tone, but carried on nevertheless.
“Anti-Corruption? Really? I think my record shows which side of the fence I’m on.”
She was referring to Harwood’s predecessor—Detective Superintendent Whittaker—whom she had rightly handed to Anti-Corruption on a plate.
“Which makes your actions all the more surprising, Helen.”
Still that coolness.
“What do you mean?”
“I’d like to play you something,” Harwood replied. “The original is with Anti-Corruption, hence this morning’s fun and games. I made this copy for our files.”
Helen tensed as Harwood pressed Play on her small portable player. What game was this?
Silence, then shuffling, then finally voices. Helen immediately recognized her voice—and that of DI Tom Marsh. For a moment, Helen was struck dumb. Why the hell would he have been recording their conversation? He had no idea Helen was going to doorstep him in Northamptonshire...
She had been set up. DI Marsh had been in on it from the start—he had recorded Helen asking him to leak classified information to her, to compromise ongoing undercover work, to risk the lives of serving officers... The charge list was endless. And Harwood had it all on tape.
“I told you not to go near this. No, I ordered you not to go near Robert Stonehill,” Harwood continued. “But you ignored me. I’m not sure yet how you accessed the file on him, but I’ll find out.”
Immediately Helen thought of Charlie. What had she dragged her into?
“File?” Helen queried, keeping her expression as neutral as possible.
“Don’t be coy, Helen. The only way you could know about the involvement of DI Marsh is from having read the unredacted file.”
“I don’t recall any file.”
“Good God, Helen, if that’s the best you can do, you really are for the high jump. Anti-Corruption is going through your flat with a fine-tooth comb—when they find the evidence they need, then you’ll be gone. And not a moment too soon.”
Helen stared at her superior. There was something different about her today. Even at the point of her triumph, she looked weary and empty. As if her own hatred had eaten her from within. She had laid a complex trap to catch Helen and it had worked. So why did she seem so dispirited?
“Was any of it true?” Helen said. “The fight in Northampton? Robert’s association with the police?”
“I’m afraid that’s classified.”
And no doubt would remain so. Helen’s anger was spiking now. The thought of how her personal life—her deepest vulnerabilities—had been used against her made her blood boil. She had underestimated Harwood’s thirst for vengeance and was reaping the reward for her complacency.
