The Cedar Face: DI Jewell book 3 (DI Elizabeth Jewell) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Carole Pitt
you're playing at? And I don't mean the rubbish on here,' he hissed, holding the laptop up.
Eldridge had been lucky. Since Yeats' arrival at the beginning of March, he'd had very little contact with him. On Yeats' first day at Park road he'd introduced himself to the squad explaining he was replacing DCS Daly due to unforeseen circumstances. So far, Yeats hadn't interfered in CID's day-to-day workings, spawning speculation that he was too busy pen pushing to take notice of what everyone was doing. Looking into his steel grey eyes Eldridge realised they had all made a huge mistake.
'Sorry Sir,' Eldridge stuttered, worrying about his laptop.
Yeats shoved it into Eldridge's chest. 'Put this thing away and don't let me catch you wasting time again.' He moved away and then as an afterthought turned back. 'Make sure you're in my office in ten minutes.'
Eldridge opened his desk drawer and slid the computer in. Trust him to be the first person to get on the wrong side of the Irishman, the name most of CID had given their new boss. No one knew very much about him other than he came from Belfast.
'Know your enemy,' DI Elizabeth Jewell had told them all after she first met Yeats on Valentine's Day. Her words had encouraged plenty of illicit internet use trying to find out more about him.
Eldridge went into the men's toilets and tried sprucing himself up. He needed a haircut badly and wished he'd put on a clean pair of jeans. Five minutes later, he was on his way to what used to be Daly's office. Eldridge missed his old boss, after a rocky start and several warnings the old devil had given him a chance to redeem himself on the Harry Steele investigation. Underneath the bluster and comedy act, Daly was a fair and experienced officer. Now Eldridge had to deal with this new bloke who he suspected was the complete opposite.
On his way, Eldridge hoped he wouldn't bump into anyone, especially Katie Gardiner. Now she was going to join CID permanently there would be no way of avoiding each other. Apart from any other issue, she was clever and Eldridge could see a problem looming, fierce competition. As soon as he entered Daly's old office, he noticed the transformation. Rumours had circulated about the makeover. Eldridge looked around and was impressed.
Stripped bare of all the old shelves and unnecessary clutter it looked bigger. White walls and the laminate floor had replaced yellowing woodchip and the stained grey carpet. He couldn't see the Lloyd Loom chair anywhere. It too, had gone. Yeats lounged in a black leather armchair behind a solid teak desk. He pointed to an identical one. 'Sit,' he said.
Eldridge decided to take the initiative. 'I'm ready to apologise Sir, it's just DI Jewell didn't leave me instructions before she left.'
'Where is she by the way?'
'Griffith's trading estate in Gloucester, still on those porno burglaries. Apparently she's winding things up today.'
'Why aren't you with her?'
Eldridge thought for a moment. He didn't want to disclose that she'd asked him to do another favour for her out of hours. The lean, hard bloke in front of him made him feel uneasy. The legendary Royal Ulster Constabulary had changed its name in two thousand and one to the less intimidating title of The Police Service of Northern Ireland. The first fact Eldridge could be sure of was Yeats had served over twenty years in the force, a proportion of that as a special branch officer in the RUC. The secret was not to mess with him. Feeling edgy, he racked his brains for a convincing reply.
'Basically, she didn't need me. DS Patterson had to go back into hospital for a couple of days at the end of February. A bit of a scare, you know, from his head injury. Anyway, he stayed on desk duty for a bit and I filled in for him. Now he's back. Those two make a great team, so I'm stuck without a partner again.'
'Leaving you free to play computer games in the incident room?'
'I said I was sorry Sir. It won't happen again.'
'If it does...' The
Eldridge had been lucky. Since Yeats' arrival at the beginning of March, he'd had very little contact with him. On Yeats' first day at Park road he'd introduced himself to the squad explaining he was replacing DCS Daly due to unforeseen circumstances. So far, Yeats hadn't interfered in CID's day-to-day workings, spawning speculation that he was too busy pen pushing to take notice of what everyone was doing. Looking into his steel grey eyes Eldridge realised they had all made a huge mistake.
'Sorry Sir,' Eldridge stuttered, worrying about his laptop.
Yeats shoved it into Eldridge's chest. 'Put this thing away and don't let me catch you wasting time again.' He moved away and then as an afterthought turned back. 'Make sure you're in my office in ten minutes.'
Eldridge opened his desk drawer and slid the computer in. Trust him to be the first person to get on the wrong side of the Irishman, the name most of CID had given their new boss. No one knew very much about him other than he came from Belfast.
'Know your enemy,' DI Elizabeth Jewell had told them all after she first met Yeats on Valentine's Day. Her words had encouraged plenty of illicit internet use trying to find out more about him.
Eldridge went into the men's toilets and tried sprucing himself up. He needed a haircut badly and wished he'd put on a clean pair of jeans. Five minutes later, he was on his way to what used to be Daly's office. Eldridge missed his old boss, after a rocky start and several warnings the old devil had given him a chance to redeem himself on the Harry Steele investigation. Underneath the bluster and comedy act, Daly was a fair and experienced officer. Now Eldridge had to deal with this new bloke who he suspected was the complete opposite.
On his way, Eldridge hoped he wouldn't bump into anyone, especially Katie Gardiner. Now she was going to join CID permanently there would be no way of avoiding each other. Apart from any other issue, she was clever and Eldridge could see a problem looming, fierce competition. As soon as he entered Daly's old office, he noticed the transformation. Rumours had circulated about the makeover. Eldridge looked around and was impressed.
Stripped bare of all the old shelves and unnecessary clutter it looked bigger. White walls and the laminate floor had replaced yellowing woodchip and the stained grey carpet. He couldn't see the Lloyd Loom chair anywhere. It too, had gone. Yeats lounged in a black leather armchair behind a solid teak desk. He pointed to an identical one. 'Sit,' he said.
Eldridge decided to take the initiative. 'I'm ready to apologise Sir, it's just DI Jewell didn't leave me instructions before she left.'
'Where is she by the way?'
'Griffith's trading estate in Gloucester, still on those porno burglaries. Apparently she's winding things up today.'
'Why aren't you with her?'
Eldridge thought for a moment. He didn't want to disclose that she'd asked him to do another favour for her out of hours. The lean, hard bloke in front of him made him feel uneasy. The legendary Royal Ulster Constabulary had changed its name in two thousand and one to the less intimidating title of The Police Service of Northern Ireland. The first fact Eldridge could be sure of was Yeats had served over twenty years in the force, a proportion of that as a special branch officer in the RUC. The secret was not to mess with him. Feeling edgy, he racked his brains for a convincing reply.
'Basically, she didn't need me. DS Patterson had to go back into hospital for a couple of days at the end of February. A bit of a scare, you know, from his head injury. Anyway, he stayed on desk duty for a bit and I filled in for him. Now he's back. Those two make a great team, so I'm stuck without a partner again.'
'Leaving you free to play computer games in the incident room?'
'I said I was sorry Sir. It won't happen again.'
'If it does...' The
Readers choose
Kristin Cross
Heather West
Fayrene Preston
Dar Tomlinson
Tea Cooper
I Thee Wed
Mary Kennedy
Sharie Kohler
Cindy Jefferies