The Amen Cadence by J. J. Salkeld Page B

can’t be spared. Absolutely no way, I’m afraid. And you will be helping the investigation, won’t you? You’ll be talking to this bloke who Linda thinks she saw, plus any other possible persons of interest that West Mids wants to be interviewed.’
    ‘Too right. I’m straight off with Rex to find the bastard, as soon as we’re done here.’
    ‘DC Copeland? Are you sure that’s a wise choice?’
    ‘Aye, why not? He’s my senior DC, and he’ll be a DS soon, if I have my way.’
     
    Mary’s PA brought in the tea, and neither woman spoke as she poured.
    ‘I was going to talk to you about Copeland anyway, Pepper. Professional Standards have been on to me again.’
    Pepper wagged her finger, like a windscreen wiper in a sudden downpour.
    ‘Oh, no. No way. He was cleared last time, ma’am. It was all just hearsay, and that business in London was completely innocent, no matter how it looked. He was probably set up, right from the off.’
    ‘There’s been another complaint, Pepper. All right, it’s from a con…’
    ‘Not Lenny Murphy? He’s so bloody bent they’ll have to bury him in a corkscrew coffin. I wouldn’t believe a word that bastard says.’
    ‘Maybe not, but you know how it is.’
    ‘Mud sticks?’
    ‘No, not that. Do you have to be so bloody cynical all the time, love, or can you take an hour off once in while? What I meant was that we both know that we have to investigate, and be seen to investigate, any such accusations. Did you know that another officer of ours got nicked for suspected corruption the other week? And this Murphy bloke is saying that he’s heard that Copeland is working for Young. He’s gone on record about it too, love.’
    ‘Christ, Mary, it’s so bloody obvious. A con like Murphy would never grass up Dai Young. He’d have to be totally off his head. He’ll have been put up to it, I guarantee it.’
    ‘But why? Why put Copeland in the frame?’
     
    Pepper thought about it. ‘I don’t know. To settle some sort of score, or to throw Professional Standards off the trail of whoever our mole actually is.’
    ‘No, it can’t be that. They’ve as good as closed the internal investigation down, or at least they had. Face it, Pepper, you’re probably wrong about Copeland. He’s connected to the Ferris family, and they’re behind Young’s operation. It’s fact, is that. Don’t get me wrong, Copeland seems like a nice lad, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t bent, does it, love?’
    ‘No, I suppose it doesn’t. But I’m still taking Rex to see Boyle, unless you’re suspending him.’
    ‘No, I’m not doing that. Not at present, anyway. But you do need to know one other thing. This Lenny Murphy’s girlfriend, the one who was Copeland’s informant, she’s been talking to Professional Standards and all.’
    ‘What about? Do you know?’
    ‘All they’ve told me is that she is directly connected to the Ferris family, and claims to have known Copeland back in London. How much further than that it goes, I have no idea.’
     
    Pepper got up, leaving her tea untouched.
    ‘It’s all a bloody fit-up, is this, Mary. And if he’s not suspended then we’d better get going. Rex is a good officer, and I’d trust him with my life.’
    ‘Let’s hope you don’t have to, love’, said Mary Clark, turning back to her computer briefly, then looking back at Pepper. ‘Because he’s dirty, love, and you’re just too bloody loyal, and too bloody stubborn, to admit that fact. But when they do prove it, make sure that you’re not standing too close, and shouting too loud, love.’
     
     
    Rex Copeland didn’t need Pepper’s directions to get to the rambling roadhouse of a pub on the edge of Carlisle’s biggest housing estate. He’d been there before, more than once, and never for a quiet drink. It was only ever to nick some nobody, whose name he’d instantly forget, with bad tattoos and worse teeth. The massive cross of St. George flag behind the bar was probably