Summoning the Dead (DI Bob Valentine #3)(28)

The term was more police jargon that grated with Valentine. It meant a case with a lot of media interest – or, to be more specific, a lot of media interference and even more interference from the top ranks.

‘I’m sure the human element will be exploited by the press in due course.’

‘Indeed. It’s important that we’re ready for that eventuality when it raises its head.’

He had dealt with prying journalists in the past and it did not frighten him. His concern was more for the families of the victims when they identified the boys; press intrusion had a way of isolating the worst-affected individuals and making the experience as unpleasant as possible for them.

‘Sir, my team is well versed in the tricks of the press. You have nothing to fear there.’

Greaves turned his gaze to Martin and leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers over the brightly polished buttons on his chest.

‘Bob, the chief constable has some concerns relating to past events with the press on your squad.’

Valentine was blindsided. He knew at once what she was referring to, but he didn’t expect that to be cast up now, or used as something to attack him with. There was an angle being worked, but the DI couldn’t see it.

‘Rossi is back working in the family ice-cream business now. I hardly see how he’s relevant to my current investigation.’

‘Calm down, Bob,’ said CS Martin, ‘we’re just making sure all the bases are covered.’

Valentine didn’t get a chance to answer, adding a couple of beeps to his racing pulse.

‘We need to make you aware how sensitive the issue is, Bob, that’s all,’ said Greaves.

The DI took a deep breath. ‘Yes, sir.’

‘We have to be sure that everything is shipshape and Bristol fashion on your squad, if you know what I mean.’

‘You’ve made me aware of your concerns, sir, but I really do not believe it’s an issue.’

‘You see, Bob, that kind of response could be deemed complacency by some people – or worse, hubris.’

‘The only pride I have is for the job. If I can make a point here, whilst we’re harking back to the events of a couple of years ago, it was me who uncovered Rossi’s less-than-wholesome relationship with the press, and it was me that showed him the door pending the full internal investigation. I took no chances, and I’m quite sure I’d do the same again.’

The chief constable unlaced his fingers and sprang forward in his chair. He seemed to be assessing Valentine’s reaction through slitted eyes, but there was no way of telling what was going on behind the inscrutable gaze. ‘OK, Bob. If you tell me your team is watertight, I’ll respect your integrity.’

‘Thank you, sir.’

‘I’ll say this though – you and I both know the kind of attention this case is going to attract from all areas of the media, and I don’t just mean the Ayrshire Post and a few struggling nationals. This case has the potential to be an international sensation.’

Valentine winced at the chief constable’s word choice. ‘I understand.’

‘I’m going to appoint you a direct media-liaison officer, and I’d like her to be accommodated within your squad and become an integral part of the set-up.’

‘We have Colleen, sir. Are you sure that this is necessary?’

‘Colleen and the press office have their hands full as it is. No, my mind’s set on this. I’ll be sending you Charlotte Stubbs from Edinburgh HQ. She was a legal eagle before she became a parliamentary press secretary. She’s extremely savvy and just what you need.’

If there was a backhanded insult in the chief constable’s remarks Valentine let it go, in much the same way as he understood he would have to let go of any objections he might have to bringing a complete stranger into his squad.

‘We’ll make Charlotte feel at home, sir. If that’s what you’d like.’

Greaves smiled, indicating the floor was now open to the chief super. ‘Anything to add, Marion?’

‘I know this must sound a bit belt and braces, Bob, but we can’t be too careful,’ she said.

‘Of course.’

‘And I’d like you to think of Charlotte as your first point of contact for the press. Anything you need to release goes through her, and I mean anything – I don’t want so much as a good morning given to the hacks unless it’s been written down and approved by Charlotte first.’

The DI immediately saw that this was an impossible task to ask of him. He needed the press to work with him not against him. So much of their relationship depended on quid pro quo that he foresaw a strategy of withholding everything might have the opposite to the desired effect. But he also saw their minds were set and he wasn’t going to be stupid enough to disagree.

‘We’ll do it your way, boss.’ He was tempted to add, ‘And when it all goes tits up, I’ll try not to say I told you so,’ but he kept his thoughts to himself and headed back to the incident room to share the news with his team.





17

Jim Prentice was smacking the side of the vending machine and scowling when Valentine turned the corner on his way from the chief super’s office.

‘Lovely language for a man of your advancing years,’ said Valentine. He was trying to conceal his feelings about the meeting he’d just left by dipping into banter with the desk sergeant, but he suspected his real motives were on show.