Complicity Part 2 (2/4) By Nick Quantrill

(1/4), (2/4), (3/4), (4/4). Part 1.

'I appreciate that, but a young girl is dead. Surely the response simply has to be quicker and more forceful? What precisely are you doing about the situation?' asked Gale. 'As I said, we're following up a number of leads at this present moment in time.' Peel snorted. 'Do you have something to add?' he asked, turning to the journalist.

'Can you tell me what these leads are, Detective Sergeant?' enquired Peel, as he removed a small notepad from his inside pocket. 'You already know the answer to that question,' he said, dismissing Peel. 'Off the record...?' It was Coleman's turn to snort derisively. No chance. It's none of your business. I was told that this was going to be an informal meeting.' 'With respect,' interjected Gale, 'it is our business. It impacts on my work here as well as on my role as a concerned citizen. Like most people, I rely on the newspaper for information,' he said turning to Peel. 'David is doing a fine job in keeping us up to date with the news.' 'Thank you, Simon,' nodded Peel. 'I'm sure you'll be aware that we'll be running a piece on how the police are clamping down on drug dealing in the city centre.' Coleman nodded. 'I believe you'll be joining me tomorrow evening Sergeant?' stated Peel.

It was another of McCormack's 'initiatives'. Highly visible policing with the media invited along for the ride, like some kind of circus show. 'I think I've made my views clear on this, Mr Peel. If your paper is going to persist with reactionary reporting that only stirs its readership up and mislead them as to the true nature of the problem, you're only going to make my job that much harder to do.' 'That's hardly toeing the party line is it, Sergeant? But then again, that's not really my problem, is it? I have a duty to my readers. They want to know what the police are doing to stop such tragedies happening again. After all, they pay your wages don't they?'

Coleman could have quite happily hit Peel. 'My readers,' he thought. Jesus Christ, the man's unstoppable. He doubted that Peel believed any of this anymore than he did, but he could see that pandering to a rabid readership wouldn't do his CV any harm, especially if he did everyone a favour and left for a job in Fleet Street. Failing that, anywhere at least 60 miles away from Hull would do. 'Agreed. We are held accountable for that, but as I keep saying, your sensationalising doesn't help anybody.' He knew he was digging his heels in and not being very co-operative, but he wasn't going to give Peel the satisfaction. 'Really? What do you think, Simon?' asked Peel. 'The primary concern of ERDAG is to make sure that drugs don't claim any more victims in this city. I'm, shall we say, open-minded as to how this can be achieved...or should I say, I can see both points of view. We need to find a balance here between the needs of the police and the commercial considerations of the newspaper.'

Peel produced two photographs from his inside pocket and threw them on to the table theatrically. Intrigued, Gale picked them up and reviewed them. 'I understand you've interviewed these two characters in the course of your enquires,' stated Peel. That's Carl Baker on the left and Ryan Stutt on the right.' 'I've heard of them,' replied Gale as he continued to stare at the photographs. 'I'm not prepared to comment on any ongoing enquiry, as you'll be more than aware.' 'How does he know about these two?' asked Gale as he turned towards Coleman. Will you be charging either of these with any offences?'

'I'm not prepared to take part in this meeting any further,' said Coleman standing up and retrieving his raincoat. 'Not staying for coffee then, Detective Sergeant' laughed Peel, as Coleman slammed the door behind him. 'I'll see you tomorrow evening!' Coleman stepped back out onto a wet and windy Wright Street. Resisting the urge to light a cigarette, he switched his mobile phone back on and listened to the message that Maynard had left. The initial results of Ray Baxter's post-mortem indicated that he had been poisoned. He thought he would have to listen to the message again; did people still poison each other? Doesn't anybody watch 'CSI'? Nowadays, poisoning is about as subtle as using a gun. The message told him to meet McCormack and Maynard at the premises of Lock, Baxter and Smyth on Bishop Lane. Great, he was at the opposite end of the city centre. Although it isn't a particularly sprawling urban area, it was a fifteen-minute walk in the rain. Putting his head down, he set off down King Edward Street in the direction of the old town.

Continued... Next Page (3/4)

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