Dark Spaces (28 page)

At last he turns and smiles at me. ‘I suspect that horse has already well and truly bolted.’

He’s correct of course. I’ve wound her up like a clockwork toy. Sorry, Jack, but it’s for your own good.

Jack gave the custody sergeant Piper’s details as quickly as possible. Piper wasn’t making any problems but Jack wanted to get him out of the custody area sharpish, if only to get away from Lilly’s eyes, which were boring into the back of his neck with the subtlety of a pneumatic drill.

She was too involved in this case. Sure, she always gave every client her full commitment, but this was worse than usual. It was as if she’d decided that Jack was the enemy, when all he was doing was investigating a crime. Nothing personal, Kate had pointed out, making it sound so sensible and reasonable. But Kate was sense and reason personified. Lilly on the other hand …

As the sergeant neared the end of the custody sheet, he looked up at Lilly with an innocent smile. ‘You’re Mr Piper’s solicitor, I take it.’

‘Yes,’ she snapped.

Jack felt sorry for him. He’d schlepped into work despite the weather and was probably hoping for a quiet shift, only to be faced with the full force of angry Valentine.

‘I have to check these things,’ said the sergeant. ‘Just in case.’

‘Just in case what?’ Lilly threw out her arms. ‘I couldn’t have exactly wandered in could I?’

‘Well, no …’

‘I mean I couldn’t be on my way to the shops and have taken the wrong turn could I?’ Poor guy. Lilly was on a roll now. ‘Or maybe you thought I sneaked in, is that it?’

‘Of course not …’

‘I’m sure you must get that a lot? People sneaking in for a look at the secret workings of the custody suite?’

The sergeant went pink. ‘You might be Mr Piper’s appropriate adult.’

‘Does he look under eighteen to you?’ Lilly nodded her head towards Harry.

‘Why don’t you just give the sarge your details, Lilly?’ said Jack.

Lilly glared at him, removed a card from her breast pocket and pressed it into the sergeant’s hand. Why did she have to be like this? Why did she have to be so difficult?

‘It would waste a lot less time if you just told the sarge who you are,’ he said.

‘Waste time?’ Lilly shouted. ‘You’ve arrested Harry on some ridiculous charge and you’re lecturing me on wasting time?’

‘It’s not a ridiculous charge,’ said Jack.

‘Then tell me what evidence you’ve got because from where I’m standing it looks to me like the case against Chloe is collapsing and you’re clutching at straws.’

Keep calm, Jack, keep calm.

‘I asked Dr Piper for Chloe’s medical records and he refused to furnish them,’ he said. ‘I also asked him some questions about his patient and he refused point-blank to discuss her.’

Lilly narrowed her eyes. ‘That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?’

‘The information is imperative,’ said Jack. ‘By refusing to co-operate, Dr Piper is deliberately hindering the police in their investigation.’

Lilly swivelled on one foot to face the custody sergeant. ‘Can I use interview room three to speak to my client?’ She didn’t wait for him to nod, but simply took Harry’s elbow and led him to the room in question. When she got to the door, she looked over her shoulder. ‘I’d call up to the chief super if I were you and give him the heads-up that if this turns out to be as big a pile of shit as it sounds, he’s about to have his arse well and truly sued.’

When the door slammed, the sergeant let out a breath. ‘I bloody well hope you know what you’re doing with this one, Jack.’

Jack let out a laugh. He was sure he knew what he was doing, wasn’t he?

‘My God,’ said Harry. ‘When you mean business there’s no stopping you, is there?’

‘He had no right to arrest you,’ she said.

Harry shrugged. ‘I guess he’s just doing his job.’

‘No way,’ said Lilly. ‘He has completely overstepped the mark here.’

Harry perched on the corner of the table in the middle of the room. Signs of tiredness were etched around his eyes.

‘You don’t have to discuss your patients with the police,’ she said.

‘I know.’

‘In fact you shouldn’t discuss them with the police.’

Harry smiled. ‘I know.’

‘Jack knows perfectly well that what he’s asked you for isn’t on,’ said Lilly.

‘Then what’s he up to?’

Lilly held up her index and middle fingers. ‘Two things. First and foremost, he’s digging. He knows Chloe’s case is on the skids and he’s looking for anything that might prop it up.’

‘And the second thing?’ Harry asked.

‘He’s making this personal.’

‘Why would he do that?’

Lilly’s throat felt tight. She wanted to tell Harry the truth about her relationship with Jack, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. The fact that she hadn’t mentioned it before would make her look like a liar. Which, she supposed, was exactly what she was.

‘Jack and I go way back,’ was all she could manage.

‘You’ve battled it out on cases like this before?’

She should tell him. It was completely wrong not to tell him. ‘Yes,’ she said, sickening yellow bile of cowardice sweeping through her.

‘And I’ll bet you’ve beaten him too.’ Harry leaned forward. ‘You’ve got to understand, Lilly, that loss of pride and loss of face can be a very destructive force on the psyche. Especially in men.’

Lilly nodded and rushed from the room.

Outside the interview room, Lilly tried to keep the disdain from her voice. ‘This is beneath you,’ she told Jack.

‘Just doing my job.’

‘Carry on like this and you won’t have one,’ she hissed.

He looked as if she’d just shot him at close range.

‘Don’t give me the injured puppy routine,’ said Lilly. ‘You’ve dismissed the rape of a child as unimportant and now you’ve nicked her psychiatrist on some trumped-up charge when she needs him most.’

Jack smoothed his tie. ‘That’s just the way it’s come out.’

Lilly shook her head. Once upon a time she wouldn’t have believed this of Jack if the Pope himself had sworn it to be true.

‘Who are you, Jack?’ she said.

‘A copper,’ he answered. ‘Nothing more, nothing less.’

‘Well, I don’t recognize you at all.’

Lilly and Jack glared at one another across the desk. The introductions had been made and he’d read the caution to Harry.

‘I can see you’re champing at the bit to say something, Miss Valentine,’ Jack said.

‘Not especially,’ Lilly replied.

‘Really?’

Lilly shrugged. ‘Given how idiotic this whole situation is, I’ve told my client that he is well within his rights to refuse to answer any of your questions.’

‘So he’s going to give a “no comment” interview?’ Jack let out a snort. ‘Having failed to cooperate at his office, I can hardly say I’m surprised by that.’ He poured himself a plastic cup of water. ‘Though a jury might, of course.’

Lilly sighed. ‘Who said anything about a “no comment” interview? I may have told my client that he doesn’t have to say a word if he doesn’t want to, but it transpires there are quite a few things he does have to say to you, officer.’

Jack took a sip of water and wiped his lips with his thumb. ‘Excellent.’

Harry cleared his throat but Jack held up his hand.

‘If I can just stop you there, Dr Piper,’ he said. ‘There’s a time-honoured tradition in police interviews. I ask the questions and then you answer.’

‘There’s a time-honoured tradition of having evidence before making an arrest,’ Lilly muttered.

Jack ignored her and smiled at Harry. Harry smiled back. ‘Fire away.’

‘A couple of hours ago I called you in your office at the Grove and asked if I could come and see you to discuss Chloe Church,’ said Jack. ‘And you agreed?’

‘Of course,’ said Harry.

‘Yet, when I arrived and asked you to tell me about Chloe’s condition, you declined to do so.’

‘That’s correct,’ said Harry.

‘And when I asked that you furnish me with a copy of her medical records you also refused.’

‘Indeed.’

‘Your actual words were …’ Jack took out his notebook and began thumbing through the pages.

‘Let me save you some time, Officer McNally,’ Harry said. ‘My actual words were “Over my dead body.”’

Jack tapped his notebook with a nod. ‘“Over my dead body.” Interesting turn of phrase wouldn’t you say?’

‘Not particularly.’

‘Really? Given the circumstances involved?’ Jack asked. ‘One of your patients has been murdered, yet you refuse to help the police?’

Harry gave a laugh that turned into a groan, then morphed yet again into a sigh.

‘Officer McNally, how long have you been in the force? Let me guess, fifteen years, maybe twenty? Either way, someone of your rank and length of service must have heard of the Hippocratic oath.’ He didn’t wait for Jack to reply. ‘Let me refresh your memory. It’s an oath that dates back to Ancient Greece and it sets out the ethics involved in being a medical professional. I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment etcetera, etcetera. Ringing any bells now?’

‘What do the Ancient Greeks have to do with the murder of Lydia Morton-Daley?’ asked Jack. ‘A girl who was in your care? A girl who was your patient?’

‘Oh, but they have everything to do with my patients, officer.’ Harry rubbed his scalp with his knuckle. ‘You see the oath goes on to say a lot of things and it culminates in probably the most important promise a doctor can make. All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in the daily commerce of men which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and I will never reveal.’

Jack looked unimpressed.

‘Patient confidentiality,’ said Harry.

‘Lydia is dead.’

‘But Chloe is not.’

Jack leaned forward on his elbows. ‘Are you seriously telling me you’d put this oath before a murder?’

‘Are you seriously telling me you’ve come across any doctors who didn’t?’

‘Lots of doctors provide information,’ said Jack.

‘Without their patients’ consent?’ Harry widened his eyes. ‘I don’t believe you.’

‘Are you saying Chloe withheld her consent?’

‘I’m saying I have no idea.’ Harry threw his arms out to his side, catching Lilly’s shoulder. ‘You didn’t give me any chance to discuss it with her, did you? You just waltzed into my office and demanded her notes.’

‘I gave you notice.’ Jack pointed at Harry. ‘I called you beforehand, which would have given you ample opportunity to ask for her consent.’

‘I had no idea you were angling for that,’ said Harry. ‘When you told me you wanted to discuss Chloe, I assumed you meant her rape. Stupid I know to think the police might just be interested in catching the person who did that, given how dangerous such a person would be and the fact that they are still at large. Instead you arrest me and drag me here.’

Lilly decided it was time to draw matters to a close. ‘I think, Jack –’ she lowered her voice to the volume she used on Sam when screaming and wailing were having no effect ‘– that you need to take some advice from your superior officer.’

When Jack left the room, Lilly let out a gasp of delight. ‘And you say I’m good.’

‘Was I okay?’ Harry asked.

‘Okay? You were bloody fantastic,’ she laughed. ‘When you said you thought the police might just be interested in investigating the rape, I could have kissed you.’

Harry took her hand. ‘Well, don’t let me stop you.’

Chapter Ten

Form C15

Your relationship to the child(ren):

Sister

The order applied for and your reason(s) for the application.

(If you are relying on a report or other documentary evidence, state the date(s) and author(s) and enclose a copy.):

The applicant Gigi Talbot seeks an order for contact with her sisters.

On 17/02/2004 the applicant and her siblings were removed from their parents and placed into the care of the local authority. A full care order was made on 4/12/2004 and the care plan provided by the local authority confirmed that the children would be allowed to continue to see one another.