how you’ve got yourself worked into this state over the car, Michael. But whatever’s behind this, you’ve got to learn to control yourself. The last time you lost your cool like this, you ended up throwing Will Clarke off a rooftop. I don’t know how you’ve got the face to come in here trying to scam me after that. You’d be doing life if I hadn’t got Falco to deal with the witness statements.’
Falco didn’t know where to put his face.
Ray broke into the evil smile of a man who knows he’s got his victim by the balls. ‘Mr Falco, we’ve gathered some good evidence that Michael Patel killed Will Clarke. Probably enough to secure a conviction. But if you stand in court and admit that you took money from Leon Tarasov to cover for Michael Patel, our case will be rock solid.’
Falco realised he was being offered a deal that might save himself from spending the remainder of his life in prison. He phrased his words carefully, in case John or Ray were covertly recording the conversation.
‘Hypothetically, if there was a way I could help you two gents, I’d want complete immunity from prosecution. Not just for this, but for any other stuff that came to light as a result of a CIB investigation into corruption at Palm Hill police station.’
16:18
Millie Kentner and Greg Jackson headed into Palm Hill police station. They were confident that they’d gathered all the evidence they needed:
?(1)?The two boys who claimed they’d seen a man on the roof.
?(2)?Another boy who’d bumped into Michael Patel coming off the staircase.
?(3)?Michael’s suspicious handling of Will’s obviously dead body.
?(4)?Recorded conversations where Michael and Leon openly talked about the murder.
?(5)?Most importantly, Alan Falco’s willingness to testify that Leon had paid him to destroy the statements taken from the boys after Will’s death.
The pair headed up to the community policing office on the second floor and found Michael standing by the photocopier.
‘Michael,’ Millie called, breaking into a friendly smile. ‘Would you mind stepping into my office for a moment? I’ve got Greg Jackson from CIB with me.’
‘James Holmes and CIB,’ Michael groaned. ‘That’s just what I need after the day I’ve had.’
‘What happened to your nose?’ Millie asked, as she led the sergeant towards her office.
‘Walked into a door.’
Millie sat in her chair as Greg pulled a set of handcuffs off his belt and spoke.
‘Michael Patel, I’m arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Will Clarke. You do not have to say anything, but whatever you do say may be taken down and used in evidence against you …’
Michael looked aghast as Millie checked the time on her watch. Over at Palm Hill, two uniformed officers were driving on to the car lot to arrest Leon Tarasov.
36. HEART
20:30
James and Dave’s stuff was going back to CHERUB campus in the grey surveillance van. John was helping James carry everything downstairs when Liza Tarasov bumped into him on the balcony.
‘What’s going on, James?’
James was holding a portable TV. ‘The cops arrested Dave at the same time Pete and Leon got nicked, so I’ve got to go back to the children’s home.’
‘Permanently?’
‘I guess,’ James nodded solemnly. ‘My social worker just blew her stack. I was only allowed to live with Dave if we behaved ourselves, but we’ve been here less than a month and we’ve both been arrested. Dave’s already on parole, so he won’t be coming out in a hurry and I can’t live here on my own.’
‘That’s really sad,’ Liza said sympathetically. ‘It was nice having you two around. You livened the place up.’
The TV was straining at James’ arms, so he put it down on the ground between his legs. ‘I think I upset Hannah this morning. I sent her a text, but she didn’t reply.’
Liza nodded. ‘Hannah phoned me. I got the whole story and you’d better not be cheating on her. She’s been through a lot this past year.’
James shrugged. ‘She’ll be better off with me out of her life.’
‘I think she still likes you.’
‘Yeah, but I’ll be in a children’s home. A few weeks after that they’ll ship me off to a foster home and that could be anywhere. It’s better just to leave it: you know, fond memory and that.’
John emerged from the flat, holding a sports bag filled with Dave’s clothes.
‘Come on, James. Help me out here.’
James looked at Liza and felt sad. ‘I’d better go. Tell Hannah that I said I’ll always remember her, OK?’