The Death Messenger (Matthew Ryan Book 2)(60)

‘That would be me, at this level anyway,’ O’Neil said. ‘I report to Ford. That should be enough, even for you, Frank.’

Newman didn’t try to hide his scepticism.

O’Neil switched her focus to Ryan, almost a glare. ‘I must say, I expected more support from my wing-man.’

‘This is not his doing,’ Newman said. ‘He tried to talk me out of it.’

‘Not hard enough.’ There was spite in O’Neil’s words.

‘I’m not having that,’ Newman said. ‘Ryan insisted that you were the boss. If you told us to jump, we should ask how high. For what it’s worth, he refused to involve himself and was very vocal on the subject. This is down to me, Eloise. I take full responsibility.’

‘Do you now?’ O’Neil was seething, trying not to show it. Her eyes shifted to her DS. ‘So why the guilty expression, Ryan?’

He held her gaze. ‘When Frank told me what he’d found out, I was angry, I admit it. I thought he’d overstepped his brief—’

‘And now?’

‘If you want the truth, I can see where he’s coming from. He’s the one in the firing line, guv.’

‘Oh really? I thought that was me.’

‘You can criticize him all you like. If I were in his shoes, I’d have done the same. He was fact-checking, nothing more.’

O’Neil was rooted to the spot, a pool of rainwater at her feet. She hadn’t taken her coat off since entering the apartment. Finding herself betrayed by the very people she’d come to trust, the look on her face had gone from indignation to deeply offended to . . . wounded.

She might be down but she certainly wasn’t out.

‘Come on then,’ she said. ‘Let’s have it.’

Newman began and didn’t stop until he was done. He gave no details of how he’d come by the information and O’Neil didn’t question him on it. She was a pro, aware that if she asked him a million times he’d stonewall her on the subject. Nevertheless, she was shaken by the sheer detail he had at his fingertips, not to mention the speed with which he’d obtained it.

Ryan took a step forward. He was about to offer to take O’Neil’s coat and umbrella, but she moved away, her body rigid, as if he’d raised his hand to slap her. He was struggling to keep faith with either side. Newman’s investigation was fully justified but O’Neil deserved respect and loyalty.

‘Guv’ – he couldn’t bring himself to call her Eloise – ‘you must see why Frank had to cover himself. That way he was in control. That’s the rules of the game, otherwise he’d be in jeopardy.’

‘This is not a game though, is it?’ O’Neil stared at Grace. ‘And you were happy to go along with this? You surprise me. I thought you had more integrity . . . I thought you all had more integrity.’

‘She does,’ Newman said in her defence. ‘That’s why we were arguing. She knew stuff she wasn’t prepared to tell us.’

O’Neil’s face was flushed. ‘Then I apologize unreservedly.’

‘Don’t you dare apologize!’ Grace’s eyes were like saucers. She glanced at Ryan, her husband and then O’Neil, her voice barely a whisper. ‘You’re going to have to tell them, Eloise.’

‘Tell us what?’ Ryan asked.

‘Do you not talk to Frank, Grace?’ O’Neil clearly didn’t believe that husband and wife hadn’t already shared her secrets.

‘About you? No! Why would I? Your personal life is private, same as mine. Frank isn’t interested in gossip unless it involves national security. Never has been. It’s not my place to divulge anything I know about you to him or vice versa.’ She flicked her eyes to Ryan. ‘Or him. Ask him, if you don’t believe me. Ryan knew nothing of Frank until he found him in my house when we were looking for Jack, and yet I’ve known him for a quarter of a century. There are some things you keep to yourself.’

‘Well, my hands are up,’ O’Neil said. ‘This is my apartment, but I can assure you that the person who bought it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with this investigation.’

Newman took the direct route. ‘Who is she then?’

O’Neil hesitated. ‘You mean Hilary?’

‘It’s a simple enough question,’ he said. ‘You told me Ford was digging, pressurizing you to reveal the names of your additional personnel. If he had to ask, then he’s not in charge. He’s obviously a front man for someone higher up the food chain.’

‘I’m not prepared to go into it. If you’re unhappy with that, feel free to ship out at any time. That goes for you too, Ryan. I’ve had about as much as I can take from all of you.’

Frank wasn’t convinced.

Grace either.

The ‘perfectly reasonable explanation’ Ryan had told Newman to expect didn’t materialize. A moment of sorrow as the team waited in absolute deadlock. Ryan sat down, put his head in his hands. They could have handled that better.

Should have.

‘Tell them.’ Grace was almost pleading.

‘Go to hell! I have nothing to hide.’ O’Neil walked into her room and slammed the door behind her, leaving them none the wiser.