A Room Full of Killers, Michael Wood [best books for students to read txt] 📗

isn’t it? Tell me, would you have done anything differently if you’d been there instead of me?’

Matilda thought for a while. ‘I don’t think so. I wouldn’t have wanted him to leave the building either. Sian knew what she was doing, though. I think we both owe her a lot.’

‘I’ll buy her a box of Maltesers,’ Christian joked.

Matilda laughed and quickly stopped as she held her right arm over where her ribs hurt. Christian winced too as he laughed.

‘I’ll come and see you when you’re at home,’ Matilda said.

They both smiled and nodded. Everything was fine between them. As Matilda made her way down the corridor she realized how much she valued Christian. He was a good man, a dedicated copper, and definitely someone she wanted by her side during these more complex cases. It was time to allow him into her inner circle more.

Adele had wanted to take Matilda straight home but at the request of ACC Valerie Masterson, Matilda was sent to her office. Things needed to be said, and they couldn’t wait.

Matilda sat uncomfortably and listened as Valerie laid into her in a tirade which seemed to last hours. The ACC was disappointed in Matilda’s conduct throughout the whole Starling House investigation. She was appalled at the lack of respect for her fellow officers for allowing them to enter a dangerous situation, for abandoning them when they needed her the most, and for her complete disregard of authority.

There was nothing Matilda could do but take the vicious character assassination. With her head down she thought of how the hostage situation in Starling House could have ended so tragically had Sian not been there and taken control of it. By allowing John Preston to leave she had saved the lives of everyone in there. It could have resulted in a bloodbath. She hoped the ACC would make sure Sian received the necessary commendation for her actions.

‘Matilda, look at me,’ Valerie said. She was standing behind her desk, arms firmly behind her back, lips pursed, a stern expression on her face. ‘I’m giving you a week off. I don’t want to see you in this station at all. During that time, you will think about how you’ve behaved during this investigation and you will change your behaviour. If you cannot put the lives and safety of your team before your own agenda then there is no place for you in South Yorkshire Police. Do you understand?’

Matilda nodded. Right now, she had no energy to fight.

After two days off work Matilda was already beginning to climb the walls. She had finished reading Carl by Sally Meagan, but had no idea what to do with the book. Matilda’s phone had been busy as Sian filled her in on everything that was going on in CID, and she found herself missing the place.

Rebecca Childs was recovering in hospital following an operation on her trachea. She had lost a great deal of blood and needed two transfusions. She wasn’t out of the woods yet, but the signs were good.

Rory Fleming was still recovering well. He was in a great deal of pain but he was more worried about bruising and if he would be scarred. Now that he was single he wanted to make sure his looks remained intact. This made Matilda laugh and she promised she would visit him in a day or two, maybe take him some concealer.

On the third day of her leave, the phone rang. Matilda muted the television and answered. She was surprised to hear from the ACC.

‘Matilda, I’m not going to say I owe you an apology because I don’t believe I do. However, it would appear you were correct.’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘I’ve had a call from the Chief Superintendent at Leicestershire Police who tells me DS Amy Stringer and a forensic team have spent the last two days searching a squat. I’m guessing you know something about that.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘The flat has been untouched for a number of years and an extremely thorough examination took place. An item was found beneath floorboards in the living room wrapped up in a bloody rag. I’m also guessing you can tell me what that item is.’

Matilda found herself smiling. ‘Would it be the murder weapon used to kill to Thomas Hartley’s family?’

‘It most certainly would. I spoke to Superintendent Spicer at Greater Manchester Police and he has confessed to knowing all about Daniel Hartley being Thomas Downy, though not until after Thomas Hartley had been convicted.’

‘Why didn’t he do anything about it?’

‘Because he had been given promotion to DCI on the back of his speedy success of the Hartley case. If the whole backstory had come out, he would have been in serious trouble for not looking deeper into Daniel Hartley’s life.’

‘I hope Pat Campbell’s son will be getting his suspension revoked.’

‘He’s already back at work, and Superintendent Spicer will be making a statement later this week in which he will resign for personal reasons.’

There was a long silence on the phone while Matilda took in everything that had happened.

‘Matilda, I cannot condone the way you went about this, but you have saved an innocent teenager from a lifetime of imprisonment. You should be incredibly proud of that.’

‘I am. Thank you, ma’am,’ Matilda said. She felt a smile growing on her lips and a warm glow from deep within.

The process to release Thomas Hartley was not a quick one and Matilda was back at work by the time the CPS decided his conviction should be quashed and Samuel Bryce charged with his role in the murders.

Pat Campbell wanted to be there when Thomas was released. She had returned to Manchester to explain everything to Debbie Hartley in person, and on the morning of Thomas’s release she went to collect her and bring her back to Sheffield, so she could welcome her only surviving relative when he was finally freed.

It was a bright October day. The sky was blue, there wasn’t a cloud in sight, but it was chilly. Winter was slowly arriving.

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