Page 70 of The Other Side

“Upstairs,” Ruskin told him.

Conversations faltered as Drum entered the office. He saw a large photo of him holding the sheep stuck to the pinboard and sucked in his cheeks. Several officers looked up. Purbeck scowled at him. Because I made him look bad by finding Matthew?

Before anyone could speak, Sergeant Wilson appeared. “This way.”

Drum followed her to an interview room. The door was already open. Inspector Gordon sat on one side of the table. Beside him was a man Drum didn’t recognise.

“Evening, Drummond,” Gordon said. “Thanks for coming in. This is DI Waterford.”

Drum nodded.

The sergeant closed the door behind her as she left.

“Sit down,” Gordon said.

Drum sat.

The detective looked up from the file. “We have a problem.”

“What sort of problem, sir?”

“Jackson Ashford is paying people to look for you. We can’t prove it, but we’ve been made aware of it. Your real name is not known, but we feel you should go into protective custody.”

Drum’s heart sank. “I don’t want to, sir. Why would anyone look up here? I’m not even working as a constable. We knew Ashford would have people looking for me once he found out I’d survived. I don’t feel unsafe up here. I’d rather carry on with my job.” I’d rather be with Osian than stuck in some miserable safehouse for months. “It’s only going to be for a short while anyway. I assume Matthew Green will want his job and vehicle back once he’s declared fit for duty.”

“He’s nowhere near fit for duty,” Gordon said. “He doesn’t know where he’s been for all this time. DI Waterford has come up to take you to a safehouse. He can go back with you to your place, help you pack and by tomorrow morning, you’ll be… elsewhere.”

In other words—not here and not your problem.

“In a place that could be as easily compromised as here, sir. I’d rather stay.” It was his choice, surely.

“Jackson Ashford can’t be allowed to slip the noose. You’re a critical witness,” Waterford said.

“I’ve already made a sworn statement about everything he did, just in case anything happens to me.”

Waterford scowled. “And you know it will be classified as ‘hearsay’ because the defendant would lose the right to cross-examine if you’re not there. The court applies narrow legal tests before allowing a statement to be read aloud in front of a jury. You have to give evidence.”

“Is there even a trial date yet?” Drum asked.

“No. Look,” Waterford said. “You have no family. You’ve only been up here five minutes. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t want to leave.”

The guy gave a heavy sigh. “You can’t stop us conducting a risk assessment or from implementing lesser protective measures.”

Which meant they couldn’t force him to go.

“By the time a tactical firearm unit is called in, it may be too late,” Waterford said.

Drum met his gaze. “Well then you’ll have Ashford for murder rather than attempted murder.”

“Drummond!” Gordon warned.

“Three weeks,” Drum blurted. “Give me that, sir. The other PCSO should be fine by then. If you’re still convinced the threat is credible, then I’ll go.”

Waterford pushed back his chair and stood. “I’ve done my best. Three weeks then.”

He walked out. Drum swallowed hard and stood up.