The Cedar Face: DI Jewell book 3 (DI Elizabeth Jewell) by Carole Pitt Page B

Calbrain and wanted to tell him this latest news but knew she would probably change her mind. Her personal life was constantly under scrutiny and if Yeats discovered a weakness he'd use it to further undermine her. Patterson had made his peace with Calbrain and often called by his business premises to see his part time secretary, Hannah, so would find out soon enough about the Montero woman. Elizabeth trusted his discretion; he probably wouldn't even mention he knew.
    She glanced at the quayside again. A place she'd never had time to explore. Overhead the ominous dark clouds were breaking up to allow brief spells of sunshine. Elizabeth crossed the car park and headed towards the well-preserved example of a Victorian port where renovated warehouses and other dock-related buildings had become thriving museums and retail outlets. Ships had once discharged their cargoes alongside the historical buildings. Now the water was busy with visiting narrow boats and smart motor cruisers. Further along, the waterways museum caught her eye. Occupying three floors of the old Llanthony Warehouse, the museum featured life on Britain's inland waterways. Outside by the quay, Elizabeth spotted an old steam dredger. She turned her head to the south of the main docks area and saw the new shopping mall. According to an old friend who was forever buying clothes it was worth a visit. When she'd had enough of culture, she'd try a little retail therapy.
    For the next hour the museum held her attention preventing Calbrain from dominating her thoughts. The initial shock and hurt had started to ease and the need for another coffee drove her to the shopping mall. Cut-price designer outlets lined the wide arcade; she stopped to glance in several windows but wasn't tempted to go inside. Instead, an independent cafe offering homemade soup and simple meals seemed a better option. While she waited for her order, she checked her phone and noticed three missed calls from Patterson.
    He picked up quickly. 'I was beginning to think you might have handed in your resignation without telling me,' he said, sounding stressed.
    ' Don't be stupid Tony. Why would I resign and then keep an appointment at the CPS? I switched the phone off while I was with this new district prosecutor. She took her time over the file and isn't optimistic on the full charge unless we can prove they' ve falsified their business accounts. So we'll start with the Inland Revenue and request information under the Proceeds from Crime Act. Then I want you to contact Philip Younger.'
    ' Who's he?'
    'He's a forensic accountant working for that big outfit in Montpelier.'
    'Yeats won't like spending that kind of money.'
    Elizabeth wondered why Patterson sometimes put a dampener on her decisions. 'Well he's going to have to; otherwise I'll ring up my best friend the Chief Constable and warn him of an imminent BDSM scandal, possibly involving some of his cronies.'
    'How will this Philip Younger bloke go about spotting inconsistencies in their accounts?'
    Elizabeth continued. 'A forensic accountant concentrates on quantifying losses or spotting cover ups. Then he looks for unusual transaction patterns and odd similarities. From what I've read, if this points to coincidental figures it can indicate fraud.'
    'Where are you now?' Patterson asked.
    'I'm having a coffee in the mall.'
    Patterson said, 'I've just thought of another angle. I bet the Faraday's bribed people to keep quiet about the parties.'
    'Start on that straightaway.’ Elizabeth was about to hang up when she remembered he'd tried to contact her three times. 'Sorry, I forgot to ask why you phoned.'
    'Katie Gardiner's managing the incident room and I'm relegated to the coalbunker, but the main reason I called is Eldridge says Yeats is keen to charge Morven for Wilson's murder.'
    Elizabeth was shocked at the speed of events. 'Did Eldridge mention if all the forensics are in yet?'
    'I didn't get the chance. He was in a hurry and full of himself as