The smile slid off Kate’s face. Either she’d come across JC before, or Walker had given him her name and he’d done his homework as soon as the phone went down on the first call he’d taken. She locked eyes with Hank. They both knew she’d not given the solicitor her first name. It didn’t appear on her warrant card either.
Hank was urging her to hang up.
Kate stayed on the line. She didn’t recognise the voice. The man on the other end sounded like he had a big ego. Unlike Walker, he wasn’t easily rattled. Quite the opposite. There had been amusement in his tone, as if he was toying with her, letting her know that he was smart and untouchable.
He wasn’t.
Kate held her bottle. If she had any doubt whatsoever that Walker had warned an offender, it had vanished now. That small victory was all she’d hoped for and more. ‘Wherever you’re hiding, JC, I will find you.’
‘Game on,’ he said.
He disconnected.
Hank said nothing.
Kate started the car and moved off.
The A1 north was clear. The gritters had done their job, but when two Traffic cars passed at high speed, blue lights and sirens engaged, Kate knew instinctively that she wouldn’t get far. As she watched them disappear, the vehicles she was following slowed and the Audi’s high-tech in-car system warned of diversions ahead. Decelerating, Kate swore under her breath. The absence of southbound traffic was an indication of a major RTA, a theory confirmed seconds later when the air ambulance appeared, hovering in the distance as it weighed up the situation.
Someone had asked for an emergency airlift.
She glanced at Hank. ‘If they close the road, we might have to abandon our plan to interview Simon Shepherd.’
He gave a nod but remained silent.
‘Stop festering over that phone call—’
‘I’m not—’
‘Aren’t you?’
‘No.’ He looked away, not quick enough to hide the deceit.
‘Hank, you and I have one similarity to the man or woman we’re hunting. We both play to win. JC could be a middleman, the guy who does the grunt work. I don’t think so somehow but, if the arrogant shit thinks he’s untouchable, he can think again.’
‘Any thoughts on who he might be?’
‘None. I’ve been thinking about it non-stop. I don’t recall anyone we’ve put away with those initials.’
‘Me neither.’ Hank fell silent.
Had it not been for the fact that their investigation was beginning to bite, the situation might have been depressing, but Kate was on a mission and had no intention of slowing down, unlike the long line of vehicles she was trailing. As she crawled along for another fifteen minutes, unable to turn around or get off the carriageway and choose another route, more blue lights were visible in the distance.
As traffic ground to a halt, she stopped the car and got out, telling him that there were four police vehicles, a fire and rescue appliance, one ambulance and personnel in high-viz jackets in attendance. A Traffic cop Kate knew well was walking the line instructing drivers to turn around.
Maybe all was not lost.
As cars and lorries peeled off, one by one, frustrated by the detour, she inched forward, hoping Inspector Andrea McGovern would let her through. Kate wound down her window as she arrived, drawing a circle with her finger to the driver of the car behind, a gesture he didn’t like. She ignored him in favour of the two detectives.
‘Kate, we’re dealing with a fatal.’
‘I figured. Any chance I can squeeze through?’
‘Yeah, no bother.’
Using her radio, Andrea alerted colleagues that the DCI was on her way. An angry expletive was hurled at her from the driver behind. He’d overheard and was making his mouth go, complaining that he too was on urgent business. Ending her transmission, Andrea walked towards him.
Kate waited, checking her wing mirror to ensure the dickhead wasn’t going to give her grief. She needn’t have worried – Andrea was a pro.
‘Turn around, sir. The road is closed.’
‘Then why’s she getting through?’
‘None of your business. Have a nice day.’
Swearing loudly, he did a three-point turn, drove onto the verge, then floored the accelerator, deliberately spraying her with a fine powder of snow as he took off in the opposite direction. Walking to Kate’s Audi, Andrea wiped snowflakes from her face, a wry smile developing. ‘There’s always one,’ she said.
‘Tosser,’ Hank said. ‘You want his number?’
‘No, I got it. My oppo’s stationed at the next junction south. That guy’s delay just got a whole lot longer.’
‘Nice one,’ Kate said. ‘Anything we can do to help?’
‘Thanks, but I’ve got a full crew now.’ Andrea glanced briefly over her shoulder at the tailback. ‘I’d better go. Drive carefully.’
‘Will do. And thanks for letting us through. I’ll grab a takeaway coffee in case you’re still here on the return journey,’ Kate said. ‘You look like you need it.’
‘Great. You need an escort?’
‘We’ll holler if we do.’