Page 47 of Next in Line

‘What else did you discover while the cats were away, DS Roycroft?’ asked the Hawk, cutting to the chase.

‘I began by checking every PPO’s expenses for the past five years, when I came across claims I would never have thought possible.’

‘Give me an example.’

‘Milner spent three nights at the Ritz in Paris while on a recce for the Queen’s state visit next year. He was so blatant about it that he even took his wife and daughter with him, claiming the adjoining room was occupied by his secretary, who was at home in Potters Bar at the time. I must say,’ Jackie added, ‘when he dines out, he doesn’t start at the top of the list when selecting his wines.’

‘Do you have a ballpark figure for the three of them over the past five years, with all the accompanying receipts to back it up?’ demanded the Hawk.

‘£442,712,’ said Jackie, who had obviously anticipated the question.

‘Made up of?’

‘Mainly travel expenses, dinners, clothes allowance, and overtime, despite the fact that, as senior officers, they’re not entitled to claim it.’

‘Details?’

‘When the Royal Family go to Balmoral for their summer break, Milner spends most of his time on the grouse moors – I’m told he bagged more pheasants than the Duke of Edinburgh last year – while Reynolds prefers fishing on the Dee. Virtually their only duties are to accompany the Queen to the Highland Games. But when they return to London they put in claims for “unsocial hours” allowance as well as an “away from home” expenses, not to mention overtime.’

‘If I’m to instigate a full inquiry,’ said the Hawk, ‘how much wriggle room do they have? And as important, how much do you think you can make stick?’

‘About half,’ said Jackie. ‘But I’ve already gathered more than enough evidence to fill my wheelbarrow.’ She continued when the laughter had died down. ‘My favourite claim is for a Burberry raincoat and umbrella Milner bought in Bermuda during a heatwave. The receipt shows that the raincoat just happened to be a perfect fit for his wife.’

‘This can’t be allowed to get out,’ said the Hawk. ‘The press would have a field day.’

‘Reynolds and Jennings are every bit as bad,’ chipped in William. ‘But it was Milner who made sure they got away with it by never questioning their expense claims, which suggests they were acting in unison.’

‘What will their defence be?’ the commander said, almost to himself.

‘Milner will claim that the Prince of Wales knew exactly what he was doing, and approved of it. But I’m convinced HRH had no idea what they were getting up to in his name.’

‘Do you agree with that, Ross?’

‘I do, sir. Princess Diana has no way of knowing what claims I make on my expenses, and the subject has never arisen. Milner approves every one of my claims without checkingthem and, once he’s scribbled his initials on the bottom of the chit, the accounts department pays up without question. It’s a gravy train that has no red flags and doesn’t bother to stop at any station.’

‘It might also amuse you to know,’ said Jackie, ‘that during his years as head of Royalty Protection Milner has accumulated over a million airmiles in his own name. All legal and above board.’

‘He may end up having to live in mid-air once he realizes we’re on to him,’ said the commander. He paused for a moment before adding, ‘This evidence you’ve gathered, Jackie, is compelling to say the least. But if we’re going to bring down the head of Royalty Protection, I’ll need a damn sight more than that. So, Rebecca, it’s your turn to tell us what you’ve been up to for the past few months.’

‘Superintendent Milner never travels on public transport while he’s on duty,’ said Rebecca, ‘despite having an authorized travel card which entitles him to do so.’

‘He probably uses his own car and claims a petrol allowance,’ said the Hawk, playing devil’s advocate.

‘He never drives his own car. Always takes a taxi and puts it on expenses.’

‘Then the only person who benefits is the taxi driver, and no doubt Milner has the receipts to prove it.’

‘But why take a cab to Buckingham Palace or York House,’ asked Rebecca, ‘when both are within walking distance of his office in Buckingham Gate?’

‘He would claim he can’t risk being followed while carrying confidential documents,’ said the Hawk.

‘He also takes taxis to Windsor and back, which doesn’t come cheap, when he could take the train from Victoria, a few hundred yards from the office.’

This silenced the Hawk for a moment, which Rebecca took advantage of.

‘If you then check his expenses claims carefully,’ she said, opening a file and running a finger down some figures before continuing. ‘Last year alone, Milner made a hundred and seventy-one such taxi journeys at a cost to the taxpayer of just over £33,000.’

‘And if you dig a little deeper, as we did, with the help of Constable Smart,’ chipped in Paul, not needing to check the figures, ‘you’ll find that over the past eleven years, Superintendent Milner has claimed £434,720 on taxis alone, which I think even the BBC might describe as excessive.’

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