No Going Back by Lyndon Stacey Page B

so.
    â€˜Thank you for stopping,’ he said, coming to a halt in front of Daniel. ‘Sergeant Naylor.’
    â€˜And?’ Daniel asked, looking enquiringly after the younger officer, who’d gone on a tour of inspection around the lorry.
    â€˜Oh, Constable Innes. And you are?’
    â€˜Daniel Whelan. Is there a problem with the lorry?’
    â€˜Do you have your driver’s licence with you, Mr Whelan?’
    Daniel took his wallet from an inside pocket, found the plastic card and handed it over. The sergeant squinted at it and then took a pair of glasses from his pocket and put them on – a little self-consciously, Daniel thought, as though they were new to him. His eyes sorted he inspected the licence, looking at Daniel to check the likeness.
    â€˜Are you the owner of the vehicle?’
    â€˜No. It’s owned by TFS. I’m employed as a driver. Is there a problem with the lorry?’ he repeated.
    â€˜Er, no, that’s just routine.’ Naylor handed his licence back and then took off his cap to scratch his balding head. ‘Actually, we’re investigating a complaint by a member of the public concerning an alleged assault on a young woman. This person has identified you as the alleged attacker, Mr Whelan.’
    â€˜By name?’
    â€˜Er, no, but he observed you getting into this lorry.’
    Major Clapford. Damn the man!
    â€˜Is that your dog?’ Naylor asked, gesturing up at the cab window.
    Taz was staring down at them, quite plainly excited by the uniforms and the association with his past working life.
    â€˜Yes, it is. Look, your informant misunderstood what he was seeing. The girl is a friend of mine. We’d had a bit of a tiff – you know how it is – and I was trying to calm her down. I’ve spoken to her since and we’ve sorted it all out. Everything’s fine.’
    â€˜I’m afraid that’s not quite the story that we were told, Mr Whelan. The gentleman says you pulled her from her horse and she was screaming for help. When he tried to lend assistance, however, you turned on him with some violence. It’s a very serious allegation, and I’m afraid I shall have to ask you to accompany us to the station while we look into it.’
    Daniel rolled his eyes heavenwards. ‘Please, Sergeant. There’s truly nothing to look into. Major Clapford – I assume he’s your informant – has blown it all way out of proportion. The girl is fine. I told you, we’ve talked it over.’
    â€˜So I assume you’d be happy for us to talk to her as well. And her name is . . . ?’ He waited, pen poised.
    From the start of the conversation Daniel had been anticipating that very question, and knew that with his refusal to answer it, his fate would be sealed.
    â€˜I’m sorry, I can’t tell you. I’m not going to drag her into all this.’
    â€˜I’m afraid you have little choice.’
    Daniel shook his head. ‘No, I’m sorry.’
    â€˜Then I’m sorry, but I shall have to insist that you come down to the station.’ He looked up questioningly as PC Innes appeared, having circumnavigated the lorry.
    The younger man shook his slightly gingery head. ‘Everything appears to be in order.’
    Daniel fancied he looked disappointed.
    â€˜Right. Well, Mr Whelan will be coming with us,’ Naylor said.
    Daniel didn’t argue. If he kicked up, they’d formally arrest him. All he’d accomplish would be to put their backs up and make them sure he had something to hide. As indeed he did, he reflected soberly.
    â€˜I’ll need to phone my boss first,’ he told Naylor. ‘He won’t want the lorry sat here all afternoon.’
    â€˜You can phone him from the station.’
    â€˜I’ll phone him now.’ Daniel got his phone out. It was a call he didn’t relish, following as closely as it did on the last one.
    â€˜No one’s