Down Among the Dead Men by Peter Lovesey

criminals tend to stick to what they do. A car thief remains a car thief.”
    â€œWith rare exceptions,” Diamond said. He was keeping every option open.
    The food arrived, sausages and mash for Diamond, lemon sole for Georgina. The big man’s appetite was fully restored.
    â€œWill Danny be told about the latest development—the DNA match?” he asked.
    â€œNot yet.”
    â€œAnd the niece?”
    Georgina took a sharp breath as if she’d burnt her tongue. “If he hears about her he’ll take it as proof positive that we’re corrupt.”
    â€œHe’ll hear about it some way.”
    â€œNot officially, not before we are certain it has some bearing on the case. All we know is that this young woman’s hair was found in the car. There may be some innocent explanation none of us is aware of.” Georgina paused for inspiration. “She could have travelled in the car as a passenger before it was stolen.”
    â€œOn a date with an eighty-year-old man?”
    â€œNow you’re being silly. Be serious, Peter.”
    â€œOkay. The presence of DNA doesn’t prove anything.”
    â€œAh, but it might help to validate Danny’s story. You pointed out yourself that the hooded youth he saw may have been female.”
    â€œHas anyone questioned this young woman?”
    She shook her head. “She’s gone missing.”
    The last piece of sausage fell off his fork. “Great! That’s all we need. How recent is this?”
    â€œShe hasn’t been seen for several weeks, according to Archie.”
    â€œThe niece of the senior investigating officer has done a runner? This gets worse. Hasn’t any attempt been made to find her?”
    â€œShe’s not a child any more. She may be traveling abroad according to Archie.”
    The drip, drip of information was getting to Diamond. At some point soon he would say so. For the present he suppressed his annoyance. “I’m beginning to think we should take Danny’s story more seriously.”
    After they’d eaten, Georgina suggested a walk along the river bank towards the beach, but Diamond said he’d rather go over the footbridge. “Let’s see where the hoodie is supposed to have gone.”
    They settled their bill. There was a general murmur of relief as they left the pub.
    The river was wider than it appeared from the terrace. They’d walked over the metal bridge for half a minute before they were anywhere near the middle.
    â€œThis may be a sexist remark,” Diamond said, “but I can’t picture a young woman carrying a corpse all this way.”
    â€œCome to that,” Georgina said, “I can’t picture your average young man managing it either. He’d need a helper—or a trolley. Even then it would be obvious what was happening.”
    â€œI don’t know about that. It’s a quiet spot. We were the only people on the terrace while we were eating and I don’t remember anyone coming by.”
    â€œThey wouldn’t risk it in broad daylight.”
    â€œUnder cover of darkness they might.”
    She gave a superior smile. “It isn’t only women who change their minds.”
    â€œIt’s academic, isn’t it? Even if Danny can be believed, the body didn’t end up in the river. It didn’t happen.”
    But in his mind Diamond wasn’t quite so dismissive. This was a quiet spot that might appeal to anyone wanting to get rid of evidence. Even now, at the height of day, nobody else was about, either on land or water.
    â€œThere isn’t much room for boats passing underneath,” Georgina said, looking over. “Anything with a mast would be in trouble.”
    â€œThe middle section rolls aside,” Diamond said. “It’s retractable. See the rails up ahead?”
    â€œNow you mention them, I can. Do you want to go all the way across?”
    She was inviting him to make the