Cherry Ghost

Two

Detective Chief Inspector Iain Mauritz was a patient man. He had to be. Before him stood the reason he wasn't sat in his favourite bar relaxing with a large glass of Pinot Noir, maybe that glass of 2003 Etude Carneros which Carlos had been promising him for the last few weeks now.

As head barman at the CI's bar of choice, Carlos had very quickly realised that this particular customer's patronage was one to be nourished, and over the last couple of years they had built up an easy friendship. Although they came from completely different walks of life, they both had a keen interest in fine wines, and many an evening had been whiled away in deep discussion about the vagaries of particular vintages or speciality vineyards.

Last week the DCI had adamantly declared to his friend, after one particularly long night of enthusiastic relaxation, that the 2001 Shafer Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon was the finest example of that variety of grape available on the open market . By the end of the evening he had boldly wagered Carlos £100 to come up with a compelling argument to prove him wrong. Encouragingly his claim had not yet been countered but he wasn't going to claim victory just yet. Indeed he had ordered a couple of bottles of something 'a bit special' from his contact at the Monte Bello Estate vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains in a bold move to counter the anticipated counter-strike from Carlos. Granted it was going to cost him at least twice as much as what was on offer from the bet, but this time he was confident of his victory. Also he figured that he would be receiving one bottle for free along with the immense satisfaction of getting one over on his friend.

Briefly.

He knew it wouldn't be too long before any bragging rights would be taken from him as Carlos came up trumps with some other challenge they set themselves. But for now, the anticipation of his impending victory was lying well in his mind, perfectly counter balancing the nagging frustration of the matter at hand.

The source of his present irritation began to speak, but his DI's explanation did little to alleviate his mood, in fact the obvious lack of contrition only served to heighten his sense of frustration.

"Look Adrian, the last thing I want to be doing right now is to be sitting in my office on a Friday evening listening to your BS. We both know your track record, and something needs to be done about it. You've been with us long enough for God's sake."

"Yes, sir"

"How long has it been now?"

"Seventeen years sir."

"I remember reading a report about you when you were a proby in South Yorks. You were earmarked for great things if you got your head down and worked at it. Even highlighted as potential MET material".

"Did you know that?"

"Sir"

"Well it's about time you started to show it."

"Sir"

His DI turned tail and left the office somewhat less belligerently than when he entered some twenty minutes earlier, but Iain knew that somewhere else down the line, another incident would rear its head, and they would both be back here again going over similar ground.

'Trouble is' he mused, 'The bastard knows he's a good detective and that I wouldn't want to lose him.'

Glancing at his watch, he decided to call it a day. The stack of paperwork could wait till tomorrow. He walked over to the door and took his heavy overcoat off the hook, glanced around briefly, hit the light switch and walked out of the room.