Complicity Part 4 (1/5) By Nick Quantrill

(1/5), (2/5), (3/5), (4/5), (5/5). Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Complicity is the new crime-fiction novella set in Hull featuring Detective Sergeant Coleman and Detective Constable Maynard. The thisisull.com serialisation is accompanied by the stunning black and white photography of Roland Standaert, which illustrates the story and takes a unique look at the city. Complicity and other stories are available for free. Please contact hullcrimefiction@hotmail.co.uk. for further details. Roland can be contacted at rockgraphy@mac.com.

Complicity Part 4

'Hello, Brendan. It's nice to see you. We weren't expecting to see you until tomorrow evening' said Coleman, ushering him back into his seat. Maynard had settled him into an interview room with a glass of water. Lock was only in his mid-thirties but looked even younger. His rise to partner level had been nothing short of meteoric, but when your father is a founding partner of the firm, it probably shouldn't come as that bigger surprise.

Coleman started pulling at cellophane cover of the cassette he had brought in with him. 'Erm...I want this to be informal, off the record, so to speak' requested Lock. Coleman carried on preparing the cassette player. 'Please...'

Coleman stared hard at him. 'Fair enough, Brendan. We'll keep this informal. What have you got to tell us?' 'I've not been...entirely straight with you.' 'Ok. Well, now's the time to tell us then, Brendan' said Maynard. 'You're right.'

'I might have misled you when I made my earlier statement. When I spoke to your officers I intimated that Julian Smyth was opposed to the firm relocating. That wasn't ... strictly true. ' 'I don't follow' said Coleman. 'When I spoke to Julian, he wouldn't say where he was that evening. Given the circumstances, I wasn't sure at the time whether or not I could trust him. I started to wonder if he had motive for what has happened, but ties of loyalty also bound me. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.'

'That's a fair point, Brendan and I can understand that, really I can, but I assume that the firm stands to gain a substantial sum from this move, should it go through?' Lock nodded. 'Indeed. Very substantial. With all the government grants and tax breaks that are available, it's practically financial madness not to move.'

'I'm sure you're right' smiled Coleman as he leaned across the table. But that's bullshit, isn't it?' Lock's eyes widened. 'What do you mean? You don't need to be an accountant to understand the figures. The local council practically ask you to name your price to move out of the city centre.' Lock shrugged. 'I assume they want to redevelop it in some way.'

'I don't really have a problem with that. Nor is it the fact that it's my taxes that subsidise the already rich to make even more money. No, I know Smyth and I'll be honest with you, I think he's a greedy, uncaring bastard. I've driven past his house on the way out of Hull; I've seen his Mercedes. He doesn't strike me as the sort of person who would pass up the opportunity to make some easy money. He's the sort of person who takes from the people Hull, but puts little back. I bet he sends his kids to East Riding schools and prefers to spend his money in Leeds and Sheffield. '

Continued... Next Page (2/5)

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