Asking For It

Chapter Three-1

Chapter Three

The shouted ‘Come in!’ was peremptory, confirming for Rafferty that he was about to learn from Bradley exactly what his brothers had been up to and just what he intended doing about it. Not that this was any secret. The old bastard must be rubbing his hands in glee.

Bradley was standing in front of his desk, in his hand a DVD. He looked up sharply at Rafferty’s entrance. ‘Ah, Rafferty. Just the man. You’re into porn I hear.’

This last comment was said in a jocular manner, but it would be typical Bradley to smile just before he thrust in the knife.

Anyway, even though Bradley held a DVD in his sausage-like digits, on the just-in-case principle Rafferty thought it best to keep shtum so as not to incriminate himself. He concentrated instead on the wall of photographs behind Bradley’s head. Wall to wall Bradley. There he was with the Prime Minister. And again, with the Archbishop of Canterbury. There was another of him with the Crime Commissioner of Essex. Even the Queen made an appearance. Rafferty was surprised he didn’t have a shot of Ronald McDonald, with his arm around him.

‘Porn’s flooding the market,’ Bradley told him briskly. ‘Chief Constable’s granddaughter star’s in one of them. Little madam. If she was mine...'

With that revelation, Rafferty breathed a soft sigh. So his family’s secret was safe. For now, anyway.

‘However, as she’s not... I want you to take the case. I know you’ve this new murder investigation, but it can’t be helped.’ He watched Rafferty carefully to see if he made any protest. When he didn’t – Rafferty’s only conscious feeling being one of relief that his brothers had got away with it this time; though he was hard-pressed not to give a snort of amusement when Bradley added – ‘We’re all of us snowed under with work.’

Behind him, Bradley’s desk was innocent of paperwork. The only thing that looked remotely like work was the file that Bradley now handed to him.

‘You’ll find all the details in there.’ It was thin enough. He suspected that the only information in it was that concerning the CC’s granddaughter. That would be a priority for Bradley, sucker-up par excellence.

Rafferty was surprised he’d been given the case, seeing the Super’s opinion of him. There again, seeing as he thought him the station’s porn man on the evidence of one mucky film and a lady’s red garter...it only proved to him that Bradley’s judgement wasn’t so hot.

But his judgement of Bradley was spot on, unfortunately. Keen to remain the CC’s yes man, the Superintendent would be on his heels about the case every day. Rafferty groaned inwardly.

Bradley wiped his sweating brow with a trembling handkerchief. The Superintendent was rattled, that much was clear. He must have the CC demanding he make this disk disappear. It had got to be a nightmare for Bradley. With that realisation, Rafferty began to unwind and enjoy himself. It was a rare event for him to have the upper hand in their relationship, and he meant to make the most of it.

Bradley said bluntly, ‘It’s “Love’s Lust.”’

‘Sir?’

‘“Love’s Lust.”’ Bradley, assured of no complaints from Rafferty, now waved his arms irritably. ‘“Love’s Lust”, man; the one starring the Chief Constable’s granddaughter. Keep up. I’m only telling you this once. The Lord knows it doesn’t bear repetition. These DVDs are meant to be genuine people making love, not actors. Real young love amongst young women, illicitly filmed. A whole batch of ‘em. I want you to make it a priority.’

Rafferty gave a mock frown. ‘Over the murder?’

Bradley wrestled with himself. It was clear he wanted to say, “Yes, over the murder”. He was the media’s darling and he wanted to make sure he stayed that way. But Bradley was too conscious of his image should the media get hold of the story. Rafferty enjoyed watching him squirm.

But eventually, once ensconced again behind his desk in his throne-like chair, he evidently took in the vast sweep of his domain and whatever he really wanted to say was swallowed as he took in the fruits of office. Bradley pulled his uniform jacket down – it was the full, ceremonial fig, Rafferty noticed – and he said, ‘Of course not. Murder comes before everything. Even you know that.’ Cuttingly, he added, ‘Try, if you can, to use your judgement, Rafferty. Just get to the bottom of it. And soonest. As I said, the Chief Constable’s granddaughter features in one of these films. The “Love’s Lust” one.’

For the first time, Bradley’s repetition stirred Rafferty’s curiosity. He stifled a grin, and said, ‘Really? Have you got a copy, sir?’

‘No, I haven’t got a copy,’ Bradley snapped. Warned by Rafferty’s spark of interest, the superintendent’s gaze narrowed suspiciously. ‘And any that you do find are to be destroyed immediately, is that clear?’

‘Sir.’

Bradley studied him for a moment. ‘All I want you to do is take a keen interest in solving the case. Nothing else. Right?’

‘Sir.’

‘And whoever’s involved with this film is not to be charged. God knows what he’d say in court.’ Out came the handkerchief again for more brow-wiping. ‘As it is, we must just hope he has the good sense to realise he’s lucky to get away with a slapped wrist. Though if Leonie has told them who she is...’ This thought necessitated another wipe of the handkerchief over the brow as the horrible prospect of blackmail reared its ugly head. ‘Okay. Get about your business. Oh, and Rafferty.’

‘Sir?’

‘The CC’s granddaughter is just between thee and me. If I even hear her name mentioned...’

That was all very well, but even Rafferty knew that once it went on YouTube it would likely go viral. Admittedly, the CC knew even less about technology than Rafferty. With his assorted lackeys, from the Deputy CCs down, he doubted he even knew what YouTube was. But if his granddaughter’s video did go viral, once he was alerted to it, he’d go ballistic.

Well, that was Bradley’s worry, not his. These things tended to have a life of their own, no matter what the CC thought. Perhaps one of his lackeys would explain it to him.

With a final, ‘Sir!’ he made his escape just before a jaw-splitting grin made its own bid for freedom.

***