Page 67 of In Too Deep

“Don’t know what the fuck you’re smiling about.” Levenson flapped a hand at Jake. “Disappear halfway through a shift without a word, then think you can rock up here this morning expecting work?”

Jake’s smile disappeared as he sniffed. “Came to talk to you about that.”

“Well, you can talk to someone who gives shit. Off you fuck.”

Jake opened his mouth.

But Harrison got there first. “He had a legitimate reason for leaving yesterday.”

Levenson looked at him.

Calder looked at him.

Jake looked at him.

Harrison smoothed a hand down his tie. “Perhaps you ought to hear him out.”

Levenson arched an eyebrow. “That an order from the police?”

“A suggestion from the senior officer currently standing on your site.”

Calder tilted his head.

Not much.

But enough.

And Jake, because apparently the bastard had no instinct whatsoever for self-preservation, bit down on another smile.

Harrison dragged his attention back where it belonged. “Thank you for your help, Mr Levenson. We’ll need statements from each member of your crew individually.”

Then he turned and walked across the gravel before his professional judgement deserted him any further.

Calder fell into step beside him. “Legitimate reason?”

Harrison kept his gaze on the river. “His family were affected by the information leak yesterday.”

“Right.”

Harrison glanced at him. “Is there a point you’re trying to make?”

Calder shrugged. “Just…you’re new here. You don’t know Whitton like we do.”

The phrasing of that immediately irritated him. “Meaning?”

“Meaning he’s got a habit of sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong, then kicking off when he doesn’t like what he finds. He’s got a temper, makes rash decisions and doesn’t give much of a shit who gets caught in the fallout.” Calder glanced back towards the compound. “Last time he decided he knew better than the police, a bloke ended up in hospital and Whitton got three years.”

“I’ve read his record.”

“Reading it and dealing with him are two different things.” Calder’s mouth tightened. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking all that anger makes him right.”

Harrison stopped.

Calder took another couple of steps before turning back.

“Or perhaps,” Harrison said, “we should ask ourselves why he keeps feeling he has to get involved.”

Calder frowned.