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“Probably even before her chauffeur has dropped her off at the flat in Eaton Square,” added Lamont.
“Right, let’s get back to the matter in hand. There are several cases you’ll have to brief the new Art and Antiques Squad on before you start work on your new assignment.”
“You were about to tell us, sir, before DC Adaja joined us, how the new unit will differ from any other existing drugs squads.”
“I can’t tell you too much at the moment,” said the Hawk, “but you will have only one purpose, and it won’t be to catch low-level dealers selling cannabis on the street to pot heads.” Suddenly everyone was wide awake. “The commissioner wants us to identify a man whose name we don’t know, and whose whereabouts we can’t be sure of, other than that he lives and works somewhere south of the river in the Greater London area. However, we do know what his day job is.” The Hawk opened a file marked TOP SECRET.
2
“So, have you passed your sergeant’s exam,” asked his father, “or are you destined to be a detective constable for the rest of your life?”
William’s expression gave nothing away, as if he were facing the eminent QC from the witness box.
“One day your son will be the commissioner,” said Beth, giving her prospective father-in-law a warm smile.
“I’m still waiting to hear the results of the exam,” sighed William, as he winked at his fiancée.
“I’m sure you will have passed with flying colors, my dear,” said his mother. “But if your father were to take the same exam, I wouldn’t be quite as confident.”
“That’s something we can all agree on,” said his sister, Grace.
“A judgment that’s made without evidence or facts to support it,” said Sir Julian, as he rose from his place and began to circle the room. “Tell me, what form does this examination take?” he demanded, clutching the lapels of his jacket as if he were addressing a wavering jury.
“It falls into three parts,” said William. “Physical, which includes a five-mile run that has to be completed in under forty minutes.”
“Not much hope of my achieving that,” admitted Sir Julian, as he continued to circle the room.
“Self-defense, where I just about held my own.”
“No chance with that one either,” said Sir Julian, “unless it was a verbal attack rather than physical.”
“And then, finally, you have to swim three lengths of the pool in uniform, holding a truncheon, without sinking.”
“I’m exhausted just thinking about it,” said Grace.
“Your father’s failed on all three counts so far,” said his mother, “so he would certainly have to spend the rest of his life as a constable on the beat.”
“Does the police force have any interest in mental acuity,” demanded Sir Julian, as he came to a halt in front of them, “or is it just about who can do the most press-ups?”
William didn’t admit that there wasn’t actually a physical test, and he’d simply been winding his father up. But he was still determined not to let the old man off the hook.
“After that came the practical tests, Dad. It will be fascinating to see if you fare any better with them.”
“I’m ready,” said Sir Julian, setting off on his perambulation again.
“You have to attend three crime scenes so the examiners can see how you’d react in different circumstances. I did quite well on the first test, when I had to breathalyze a driver who’d been involved in a minor prang. The test result was amber, not red, indicating that he’d been drinking recently, but he wasn’t over the limit.”
“Did you arrest him?” asked Grace.
“No, I let him off with a warning.”
“Why?” demanded Sir Julian.
“Because he didn’t actually fail the test, and also the police national computer revealed that he was a chauffeur with no previous offenses, so if I’d arrested him, he might have lost his job.”
“You’re a wimp,” said Sir Julian. “Next?”
“I had to follow up a robbery at a jewelry shop. One of the staff was screaming, and the manager was in a state of shock. I calmed them both down before radioing for assistance, then sealed off the crime scene and waited for back-up to arrive.”
