the detective's bravado and sarcasm. When Mason did answer, his speech was slow and deliberate.
'I don't want to ask you anything, Sam.'
Sam looked at him, baffled. It wasn't what he had expected.
'There's nothing to be gained by questioning you about your departure from the force,' said Mason. 'Not for either of us. In fact, you have my deepest sympathy in relation to the incident...and I truly mean that.'
Mason looked so grave Sam actually believed him. But there was a sting in the tail somewhere. Sam continued to listen with apprehension.
'However, just because I don't need to ask you about the circumstances surrounding your life at that time doesn't mean to say what happened isn't relevant to why we're here now.'
It slowly dawned on Sam. He closed his eyes. Mason had in front of him an extremely damning character assassination of Sam Carlisle.
'Yes, Sam,' said Mason grimly. 'As you are aware, the service has to give an honest assessment of everything that happens in all our careers...good and bad...and while they appear to have no issues with your career up until-'
'There were mitigating circumstances-'
'I'd say they were tragic circumstances myself,' interjected Mason. 'And that's not me being patronising. But, remember, I still have a case to investigate here, and if that means dragging up your past and asking you awkward questions, then I have to do it...and I will.'
The two men looked at each other across the table. In the few seconds their eyes locked, they reached an unspoken agreement. Neither man welcomed this situation. Nor did they envy the other's position in it. Yet, both knew the matter had to be dealt with. Sam had seen how Mason's attitude had relaxed towards him since returning to the room, possibly a small sign of compassion for Sam's troubled past. But Sam could also see the steely look of determination still bright in the detective's eyes. A dogged resolve to solve this case using any means necessary.
Chapter 24
'After the incident, you went on a short period of leave. On returning to the workplace, you're behaviour was described as, and I quote, “depressive, unreliable and, at times, downright aggressive”. Then you physically attacked one of your superiors and, as a result, you were suspended pending an internal investigation.'
Sam had picked a spot above Mason's head and was staring at it.
'But then you jumped before you were pushed. Resigned from the force and moved away. Started a new life here.'
Sam swallowed hard and looked at Mason and Hoskins in turn.
'Well, I can't argue with that, can I?' he said, smiling weakly. 'Not when it's all down there in black and white.'
'Right,' said Mason. 'It's stated in your staff record that you were drinking heavily immediately after going on leave and continued to do so during your short time back at work. In fact, it says here you may well have been disciplined for that reason alone, regardless of everything else that happened.'
'Again,' said Sam. 'I can hardly deny it.'
'So, what have you been doing during the last eighteen months?' asked Mason. 'Have you spent the time drinking on the same scale?'
Sam felt himself bristle. The question had touched a nerve inside him.
'I don't have to answer that.'
'No, you don't,' admitted Mason. 'And although the breath test you gave us earlier showed you'd been drinking today, it wasn't to excess. So, what exactly have you been doing since you moved to Bursleigh? There's no record of you working. Not legally, anyway.'
'That's because I haven't,' Sam told him simply. 'In fact, I haven't done anything since I moved here. I just wanted to get away and have some time to myself. But now the money's run out.'
'Well, a change of scenery is understandable given what you went through,' mused Mason, stroking his chin thoughtfully. 'But what concerns me is what's been going on in your head during that time.'
Sam's mind conjured up the misery of the last eighteen months. Days filled with despair. Nights
'I don't want to ask you anything, Sam.'
Sam looked at him, baffled. It wasn't what he had expected.
'There's nothing to be gained by questioning you about your departure from the force,' said Mason. 'Not for either of us. In fact, you have my deepest sympathy in relation to the incident...and I truly mean that.'
Mason looked so grave Sam actually believed him. But there was a sting in the tail somewhere. Sam continued to listen with apprehension.
'However, just because I don't need to ask you about the circumstances surrounding your life at that time doesn't mean to say what happened isn't relevant to why we're here now.'
It slowly dawned on Sam. He closed his eyes. Mason had in front of him an extremely damning character assassination of Sam Carlisle.
'Yes, Sam,' said Mason grimly. 'As you are aware, the service has to give an honest assessment of everything that happens in all our careers...good and bad...and while they appear to have no issues with your career up until-'
'There were mitigating circumstances-'
'I'd say they were tragic circumstances myself,' interjected Mason. 'And that's not me being patronising. But, remember, I still have a case to investigate here, and if that means dragging up your past and asking you awkward questions, then I have to do it...and I will.'
The two men looked at each other across the table. In the few seconds their eyes locked, they reached an unspoken agreement. Neither man welcomed this situation. Nor did they envy the other's position in it. Yet, both knew the matter had to be dealt with. Sam had seen how Mason's attitude had relaxed towards him since returning to the room, possibly a small sign of compassion for Sam's troubled past. But Sam could also see the steely look of determination still bright in the detective's eyes. A dogged resolve to solve this case using any means necessary.
Chapter 24
'After the incident, you went on a short period of leave. On returning to the workplace, you're behaviour was described as, and I quote, “depressive, unreliable and, at times, downright aggressive”. Then you physically attacked one of your superiors and, as a result, you were suspended pending an internal investigation.'
Sam had picked a spot above Mason's head and was staring at it.
'But then you jumped before you were pushed. Resigned from the force and moved away. Started a new life here.'
Sam swallowed hard and looked at Mason and Hoskins in turn.
'Well, I can't argue with that, can I?' he said, smiling weakly. 'Not when it's all down there in black and white.'
'Right,' said Mason. 'It's stated in your staff record that you were drinking heavily immediately after going on leave and continued to do so during your short time back at work. In fact, it says here you may well have been disciplined for that reason alone, regardless of everything else that happened.'
'Again,' said Sam. 'I can hardly deny it.'
'So, what have you been doing during the last eighteen months?' asked Mason. 'Have you spent the time drinking on the same scale?'
Sam felt himself bristle. The question had touched a nerve inside him.
'I don't have to answer that.'
'No, you don't,' admitted Mason. 'And although the breath test you gave us earlier showed you'd been drinking today, it wasn't to excess. So, what exactly have you been doing since you moved to Bursleigh? There's no record of you working. Not legally, anyway.'
'That's because I haven't,' Sam told him simply. 'In fact, I haven't done anything since I moved here. I just wanted to get away and have some time to myself. But now the money's run out.'
'Well, a change of scenery is understandable given what you went through,' mused Mason, stroking his chin thoughtfully. 'But what concerns me is what's been going on in your head during that time.'
Sam's mind conjured up the misery of the last eighteen months. Days filled with despair. Nights
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