The Death Messenger (Matthew Ryan Book 2)(79)

‘No. We’re cool.’

She raised a disbelieving eyebrow. ‘Chilly is how I’d describe your relationship when you left for Brighton. She’s hardly said a word to me since you flew in, Newman either for that matter. Any idea what that might be about?’ Grace twisted the knife. ‘Anyone would think you two had something to hide. Are there any guilty secrets you’re dying to share?’

‘Quit fishing,’ Ryan said. ‘And stop talking in riddles. If you have something to say, say it. Eloise and I are good.’

‘Have it your own way,’ she whispered through gritted teeth.

‘Well, she was fine before you two talked last night.’

‘Is that right? Well, rest assured, I’m not finished with either of you yet.’

Their mumbling caused Newman to swing round and face them. ‘If you guys have nothing better to do, I’m ready to talk shop.’ He glanced in O’Neil’s direction as she hung up the phone, a face like thunder. ‘I think we should discuss Spielberg’s demands before she calls again. For what it’s worth, I’m against indulging her, though I’m open to arguments as always. What do you reckon, Ryan?’

‘About what?’ O’Neil arrived in the nick of time.

Grace’s mood was belligerent, no more or less than O’Neil had told Ryan to expect on their return to the UK. Suspicious of Spielberg’s request to talk exclusively to him, Grace had made a few arsey comments on the phone. From the combative expression on her face, she was ready to let fly.

Ryan waited for her to kick off.

Atypically, she held back.

There was only one certainty in play. Any action that Grace was planning would include an opinion she’d had all night to formulate. Before she had time to voice it, O’Neil took the initiative. A small team relied on cohesion. Aware that their unit was crumbling around their ears, she’d decided to lay all her cards on the table and take the heat out of the row that was brewing. The unit wasn’t ready for another falling out.

‘But first a confession,’ she said.

‘What did I tell you?’ Grace barked at Newman. He showed no emotion and she turned her wrath on Ryan. ‘So, Spielberg wants to talk to you. How come she knows you by name? Since when did we start sharing personal details with suspects? Since when did we start lying to one another?’

‘That’s a lot of questions,’ Ryan said.

‘And they require answers.’

‘Which you might get if I had the faintest idea what the hell you’re on about?’

‘I’m not finished, Ryan. You said your device didn’t record last time you spoke to Spielberg, or words to that effect. You know what? You couldn’t lie straight in bed. Pressed the wrong button, my arse! I knew that was bullshit the minute it came out of your mouth. You’re better than that—’

‘Are you finished?’ Ryan already knew the answer.

‘Not even close!’

‘Grace, knock it off!’ Newman said. ‘Let him speak.’

‘No, I’m sick of the deceit. Either we’re a team or we’re not.’

‘She has a point, Frank.’ O’Neil kept her shoulders straight and took a deep breath, getting ready to come clean. ‘Grace has every right to be angry. Ryan did record that conversation and the device wasn’t broken. That was a lie. He was covering my back. He destroyed the recording on my instruction.’

‘What?’ Grace stuck her forefinger in her ear and wiggled it around. ‘I must be hearing things? I could’ve sworn you said you’d binned vital evidence.’

‘It’s called loyalty,’ O’Neil said.

Grace snorted. ‘Are you mad?’

‘I had my reasons,’ O’Neil bit back. ‘Ryan was flippant with Spielberg on the phone. Unprofessional. This unit will stand or fall by its reputation. I made a judgement call. The recording wasn’t something we could enter in evidence, so I told him to get rid—’

‘Good work, Eloise!’ The pit bull was in full-on attack mode. ‘That has got to be the worst decision you have ever made. As a Professional Standards veteran, you of all people should’ve known better. What the hell were you thinking?’

‘It was my decision to make.’ O’Neil was incensed, even though she knew Grace was in the right; it was not only a bad choice, it was the wrong choice. Still, she fought back, unwilling to let Grace have it all her own way. ‘Grace, let me give you a piece of advice. In future, if you want to question my authority, you do it without an audience—’

‘Tell it to the judge—’

‘Guv?’ Ryan wanted the yelling to end.

O’Neil bit his head off. ‘What now?’

He opened his drawer, took out the recorder and threw it on the desk. ‘I didn’t “lose” the evidence. What would be the point? The Control Room was trying to trace the call. They’ll have recorded it too.’ He put a hand up, fending off attack. ‘I was in the wrong to wind Spielberg up. I’m not proud of it. I called it how I saw it and I’ll take my chances when the case goes to trial. She’s not the type to respond to officialdom. I thought that a more casual attitude might keep her on the line.’

‘At last,’ Grace said. ‘Someone with sense!’