Page 16 of The Girl in the Woods

‘Aw, not Jesus, then. That’s a disappointment,’ said Ana, smiling. ‘I could have taken to someone who turned water into wine.’

‘Head computer analyst,’ Neil corrected. ‘And as close to God as they come.’

Matt nudged Luke in the ribs. ‘Bet you get her, you lucky bastard.’

‘DC Matthew Wilkins, you’ll be working with DC Rawlins. Fill her in on this trail bike rider. Show her around and take her with you to Ludbrook Grove. See what you can find out about that trail bike.’

‘Who’s the lucky bastard then?’ Luke smiled.

Matt grinned and wished he could show her around somewhere better than Ludbrook Grove. ‘We’ll also do a tour of Stonesend,’ he said. ‘Get to know the locals.’

Beth noticed the team staring at Ana and rolled her eyes. ‘Has nobody got any work to do around here?’

In her office she checked her phone and felt disappointed that her message hadn’t been read. Then, she stared at it for a few seconds and, without a moment’s hesitation, deleted it. For some strange reason, when the phone on her desk rang, she thought it was him and answered breathlessly.

‘Hello?’

‘Beth, my office, please,’ said Chief Superintendent Lewis.

Beth stifled a sigh. ‘Yes, sir.’ Had Matt put her in it? Surely not. Beth felt sure she had his loyalty.

Lewis looked up and smiled when Beth entered, and some of her anxiety eased. ‘Sit down, Beth,’ he said.

Beth sat down reluctantly. ‘Will this take long, chief? Only…’

Lewis pushed the papers he’d been reading to one side, leaned his elbows onto the desk, and clasping his hands, looked at Beth and said bluntly, ‘DI Stephens isn’t coming in today or any other day in the future, come to that.’

‘What?’ Beth said, surprised. ‘What’s happened? Is he all right?’

DI Stephens had replaced DI Miller just over three months ago, shortly after the Blanche Lethbridge case. He was an okay boss, if not a touch chauvinistic. There’d been no hint that he’d been thinking of leaving.

‘We’ve received a complaint of sexual misconduct,’ the chief super said.

Beth groaned. She remembered Craig Stephens dribbling like a baby whenever Leah, the communications officer, entered the building. He’s as horny as a tomcat, Beth once remembered thinking. ‘Who complained?’ she asked.

‘That’s confidential, Beth. You don’t seem surprised.’

‘I was aware that he thought himself a ladies’ man, but I never saw any sexual misconduct, and he certainly never said anything out of line to me… But he was a bit, well, you know.’

‘This sexual misconduct was quite blatant, and he’s been suspended until the complaint is fully investigated. I will make the team aware. However, he has insisted that whatever the outcome of the investigation, he doesn’t want to return to this division.’

‘Yes, sir, thanks for letting me know,’ said Beth, standing up.

‘Beth, sit down. There’s something else.’

Beth swallowed. She somehow felt this wasn’t going to be good.

‘Beth, any other time, you know I would have recommended you for the job. I believe you have what it takes to be a good DI, but I’ve noticed that your personal problems are affecting your work. Your behaviour was unprofessional when you visited Ludbrook Grove. A young lad’s mother complained. Luckily for you, she isn’t taking it any further.’

Beth was about to protest, but he held his hand up to stop her. ‘You’ve been late several times. You arrived at court smelling of alcohol last week, and I know you’ve left early on several occasions when you should have been here.’

Beth’s throat turned dry. The chief was waiting for her response, so she attempted to laugh it off. ‘It was a lunchtime drink with a friend. I’d only had one glass of wine. The case was running late.’

‘It’s not the first time, Beth, and I understand some personal issues are still ongoing.’

‘I don’t have personal issues,’ she said sharply. ‘Can I ask who reported me, sir?’

‘You know I can’t reveal things like that. You and I know how important it is to be on top of the job. It only takes one mistake for a career to be over. DI Stephens is a clear example of that. I don’t want another. I know it’s been a challenging year for you, but we have people you can talk to.’

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