Pix (Volume Book 24) (Harpur & Iles Mysteries) (29 page)

‘Francis Garland believes it's going to be very tough to fix these shootings on anyone.'

‘I believe it. If Francis can't crack this, nobody will,' Iles said. ‘He's a very gifted officer.'

‘Oh, certainly, sir.'

‘I feel badly about Chandor's woman, and the son – that kind of violence on our ground, Col. So sad.' Iles paused. Harpur always worried about Iles's pauses. Ferocious egomania and galloping self-pity could set in during even a very short break. The ACC re-upped the volume: ‘But, then, relationships are always liable to bring suffering as well as pleasure, aren't they, Harpur? Aren't they, Harpur? Aren't they? Think of the pain you and that scheming lech, Garland, brought me through your despicable –'

‘On the other hand, perhaps Meryl Goss's suffering will be a little less if she believes the people responsible for her man's death have been adequately dealt with now,' Harpur replied.

‘One dead, and those two so thoughtfully named lads, Rufus and Maurice, perhaps on their way out, or uncorrectably maimed. A primitive reaction by Goss, Col, perhaps via Goss's bravos? Comfort from a kind of clever
savagery? Yet, understandable? Understandable, I think. What's your opinion, Harpur?'

‘Well, sir, I –'

‘The way I see it, too. Enforcement of the law has to be in good hands, of course, or society will founder. But occasionally those good hands should stay, at least as far as can be seen, wisely idle.'

‘And washed, like Pilate's?'

‘I would never endorse
fait néantism
,' Iles replied.

‘Oh, hardly, sir. I can't see you going for anything like that. They wouldn't know how to spell it on your CV.'

‘Which historical figure was it who advocated a policy of what he called “masterly inactivity”, Col?'

‘I don't know whether the new Chief would accept that as the way to run his domain.'

‘No, you
don't
know, do you, Harpur?'

‘He's not like Mr Lane, easy to browbeat and –'

‘How about leaving
me
to educate the new Chief?' Iles said.

‘You've had so much practice.'

‘
His
fucking domain?
His
?'

‘Well, he's –'

‘Things are in goodish hands, Col.'