Water's Edge

Chapter LI

I Am A Lawman

I sat in the Chief Constable's office. I had been permitted at least a nights sleep before all of this. I remained sat on a leather stool underneath the framed article, and I tried to put it out of sight, out of mind. I was not a Bow Street Runner. I was a lawman.

They left me stewing. When the door opened, I received the pleasure of Elle Thompson, already looking like a slapped arse, but also Edith Wharton. She had changed into all black, a proper visage of grief now.

For a moment I thought I was going to have handcuffs slapped on me.

"I have spoken with the Chief Constable." Edith sat down on the chair opposite the desk. I looked exactly like a naughty schoolboy now, "We are going to let you go."

I didn't realise I needed permission to leave after solving a crime, "I see." Was all I said, "May I smoke?"

Elle reluctantly agreed, "It was commendable how you kept to the case even after everything."

"Hmm." I lit up, "I'm just glad to do my duty. Thank you for paying promptly."

The silences were painful. Edith finally looked at me directly, "It can't go further than this room though, you understand."

I didn't, not quite, "You've got the right man, put him behind bars, do your due diligence and all that." I looked for somewhere to tap out the ash.

"My husband is being reprimanded, yes."

"Reprimanded?" I stood now, the ash fell to the carpet.

Elle looked to it and then me, "Barnaby Wharton is being dealt with. Godwine recovered from his injuries and will be arrested for his own nationalistic tendencies, and defaming The English Army." She sat down at her desk as if we were discussing shift rotas, "And with your help, you found the Catalan National which unlocked our case against those eco-terrorists."

So, that was how it was. Every loose end tied up, but woven into the shape best suited for the two women sat before me. The thin blue line just got thinner.

I could do nothing though. When I had left, in the hopes this would trigger a change of heart, I had relinquished any chance of addressing what happens to the criminals after I catch them. I could argue until I was blue in the face, even take them to court, but the fee from Edith Wharton wouldn't cover a case against people this powerful.

I had tried at least.

I stubbed the cigarette out on the picture behind me, "I'm sorry about your boy." I said, as the glass protected my blurred face on the newspaper clipping.

"You think we're cruel, Mr. Fields?"

"I think you're doing exactly what I expected." I nodded to Elle, "Ma'am."

"Before you go..." I stopped at the door but I wouldn't turn to face them, "I won't be pressing charges."

"As I said, exactly as I expected."

I left. I couldn't hear more. I evidently had got away with whatever Thompson had wanted to throw at me, and Edith had nothing worth saying to me. It was as if nothing had happened.

When I got to the front door, The Undertaker was waiting for me, "Drink?"

"Yes. I think I've earnt it."

"Still a half."

"Always."

We were crossing the carpark over to the Zee when I heard heels clicking behind me. Edith had followed us, and that shy determination that I had seen in her when she had come to my office all those weeks ago had returned. She was only herself when alone. I waited. She might be worth something now.

"Detective?"

"Yes?"

She held out her hand, and I shook it, perhaps a bit too slowly, "I am so sorry..." She finally said, looking between me and Umberwood, "You did so much for Hector."

"Just doing my job."

"No. You... It's all about protecting people here, you know." I nodded a little, "And you protected the... the history of Hector. Who he was." She looked over and a new dogsbody had taken over from Evgeny, a new car. Everything cleaned up so fast, "I have to go. My husband is..."

"I don't need to know." I got into the Zee. Umberwood joined me.

Edith leant to the window. I wound it down, the final notes of the album playing, "You did your best, and we're just trying to do ours."

I wanted to say something useful, something caring, empathetic. I couldn't think of anything. I drove away.

Oh but it gets you right down to your soul

You've gotta just keep on pushing

Push the sky away