Liar Liar - James Patterson Page 0,21

all Morris’s knickknacks in a box in the corner.

The officer at the door approached when Woods failed to look up from his paperwork.

“Deputy Commissioner,” the officer said, “I’m Detective Inspector Nigel Spader. I wanted to take a minute to welcome you to the building, and to the Regan Banks task force.”

Woods didn’t answer. He liked making them uncomfortable, the underlings. It was far more effective than shouting at them, hurling things across the bullpen, as he’d seen other men of his standing do. His approach was psychologically deeper, less predictable. He felt the detective on the other side of his desk squirm.

“I really think we’ve wasted enough precious time in this investigation so far,” Nigel said.

“Oh?” Woods straightened in his chair, finally looked up.

Nigel lowered his voice.

“If I may speak candidly, sir. I really feel that the Banks investigation has been tragically mishandled, and I’m looking forward to having someone with your experience and skill in command.”

Woods felt a smile attempt to creep to the surface of his face. He pursed his lips, denying it, and gestured for Nigel to shut the door.

“I followed the Elizabeth Crassbord case closely,” Nigel said, seating himself rigidly in the chair before the commissioner. “Very admirable work, sir.”

“Spader, was it? Oh, yes. You were part of the original Georges River Killer task force, weren’t you?” Woods said, glancing at his personnel pages. “You’ve been here since the beginning.”

“Yes, sir,” Nigel said. “And I think that yesterday’s incident in the records room was indicative of the disaster this case has been from the beginning. A double murder in our own station?” Nigel shook his head, puffed out his cheeks. “We have a lot of reputation-saving to do. And I think that, when you bring down Regan Banks—and I know you will, sir—part of the cleanup is going to have to be making Harriet Blue accountable for her role in this.”

“Now, there’s an unusual standpoint.” Woods plucked at his lower lip. “Everyone around here seems to be an avid Blue fan.”

“Not me.” Nigel sneered. “Harriet Blue is a disgrace to the badge, sir. She has physically assaulted me on a number of occasions. Well, I mean to say, she’s attempted to. Unsuccessfully. I was there when her brother was arrested, and I can tell you straight up that rumors of his innocence are unfounded.”

“Hmm.” Woods appreciated the man before him. This Nigel Spader was a gifted arse-kisser, but Woods never tired of having arse-kissers around him in his work. They were good for morale. He tapped Spader’s name on the list before him as though trying to make a decision and watched as the detective’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Detective Spader, I like your style. I’m going to charge you with being my right-hand man in this investigation,” Woods said. “Of course, on paper, my second-in-command has to be Chief Superintendent Trevor Morris. But, I think you and I will both agree, Morris has really fucked the dog on this one.”

Nigel laughed, perhaps too hard.

“There will be a lot of recognition for the team involved in bringing Banks down,” Woods said. “I’ve been offered six-figure publishing deals in the past for stories of my cases. I’ve been asked to appear on television, to act as a consultant on crime dramas. But I’m a reserved kind of man.”

“Of course.” Nigel nodded.

“I’ve always seen opportunities for promotion on the job as a far more valuable form of reward,” Woods said. “And believe me when I say that, if you stick by my side on this, there will be such opportunities on offer. I guarantee it.”

Nigel stood and straightened his shirt, trying to contain the excitement obviously flickering in the corners of his mouth. As he went to the door and grasped the handle, he paused, trying to decide whether to say what he said next.

“Deputy Commissioner.” Nigel took a deep breath. “Before I go, I’d just like to add…Many of us experience family difficulties, and these can impact on our standing in the job. But I want you to know that I believe, and many of us believe, that your daughter’s situation in no way reflects on your character as a police officer.”

Woods had been just about to set pen to paper, and now the man sat frozen, staring at the pages before him, unseeing.

“Your daughter is—”

“That’ll be all, Detective,” Woods snapped.

Chapter 29

EYES EVERYWHERE. On my face, my hands, my bag as I tossed it onto the seat and slid over to the window, adjusting my cap to hide