The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1844 by Angharad Copyright © 2012 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

Despite his rudeness, he hadn’t handcuffed me and in appreciation of this I hadn’t hit him although on several occasions I felt he warranted a slap or a good punch. He escorted me from the car and into the reception where the old sergeant was on duty and his face fell when he saw me emerge. Across the room was waiting Christopher Mitten, yeah, Kit Mitten–I know–some mothers have no idea have they?

He walked confidently up to me and challenged Marple. “Lady Cameron,” he shook my hand and then said to Marple, “Is my client under arrest?”

“Yes.”

“On what grounds?”

“Suspicion of murder, you are?”

“Christopher Mitten QC, and you officer, are?”

“Inspector John Marple.”

“I’d like to speak with my client, Inspector.”

“So would I, Mr Mitten.”

“I think I have priority, Inspector.”

“Very well, George have we got a room they can use?” he called to the desk sergeant.

“Interview two.” Then as we were led to the room, I heard the sergeant say to him, “I’d start arranging gardening leave if I were you–she’s bad news.”

“George, I’m gonna do her for murder.”

“John, you must off your ’ead, d’you know who she is?”

“I couldn’t give a monkey’s if she was the Queen of Sheba, she’s guilty.”

“She’s more powerful than the Queen of Sheba, and twice as awkward, mark my words–you’ll be back on point duty if you’re wrong.”

“Ha, me wrong...” I didn’t hear any more of the banter between them, we seated ourselves at the table, one of those with gashes and grooves made from any implement bored suspects or interviewees had available. The usual names and nick names, the sort of gang logos you see sprayed on walls in run down areas or unmanned stations and the odd obscenity decorated the table.

“Well, Cathy, what have you got yourself into now?”

“Come off it, Kit, I haven’t done anything but I’m going to. I want to sue his pants off his arse, he’s most unpleasant and prejudiced.”

“What misogynist?”

“Worse, anti-tranny misogynist.”

“But you’re not a tranny any more, that was sorted–I know, because they consulted me when they did it. You’re female, so point one, he insulted you.”

“Yes, but we have no witness.”

“Doesn’t matter, I can use it to undermine him and it will be on video.”

“Of course it will, I’d forgotten that.” I sighed, “I only went to try and help the stupid woman.”

“Simon told me about that, it just so happens I was down the road seeing a client when he phoned.”

“I’m glad you were, it’s good to see a friendly face.”

He smiled and his grey eyes danced in the light. “So let’s hear it from the top.” I told him about Jim tracing the woman and how we’d gone to see her in vain and had then gone off to have a coffee and a think, then how we’d been caught up in the traffic congestion caused by the fire and the emergency vehicles.

“So, this James, would he alibi you?”

“Yes but I’m not sure it would count, as he was working with me.”

“Yes it would, plus, where did you go for coffee–any receipt?”

“I normally pop them in my bag.” I felt in my pockets, “Hang on, what’s this?” It was a receipt for two coffees and two pastries with today’s date on it and a time of twelve noon.”

“What time did the fire start?”

“I have no idea, it was all over by the time I got there.”

“The fire department will have a log of that, so that’s no problem. Okay, so you went home after you saw the house had been torched?”

“Yeah, I heard the woman talking to the coppers about two men who’d pushed something through her letterbox and then the house catching fire.”

“So he’s withholding evidence is he?”

“I don’t know, he might just be unaware of it.”

“Not sure his awareness is much more than an amoeba’s,” Kit sketched one on his notepad and I laughed which released some tension. “Now, what about these insults?” There’s been quite a few so I had to think hard to list them. “I take it you won’t be adding him to your Christmas card list?”

“I don’t think so, I’ve met some real morons in the police, but he’s got to take the prize so far.”

“There are some good uns too, Cathy.”

“I know, I just never seem to meet them, except Andy Bond–he’s a good copper.”

We returned to the insults and listing them. A little later, Marple and another plain clothes copper arrived carrying a file and seated themselves opposite us. Introductions were made. They asked if we were ready to proceed. The other guy was a Detective Chief Inspector and I just knew Kit was going to use him to annoy Marple and hopefully suspend him.

They announced the interview was being videoed, which we accepted–in fact I wanted to smile because I hoped it was going to show Kit destroying the police case and then, Marple after it.

“What evidence do you have that my client was even near the property concerned?”

“She admitted it.”

“Earlier on, Lady Cameron went to see this Edith Howse whom she had rescued from the two thugs. Don’t you find it unlikely that someone who helped her and was offering more help, of a financial nature to rid this woman of the loan shark, would then set her house on fire?”

“She was miffed because the woman wouldn’t deal with her.”

“I expect she was a bit cross, wouldn’t you be–especially after taking time out to find her and go and see her.”

“That’s why she did it?” Marple looked at me and sneered.

“I find this whole argument specious and your behaviour at best disingenuous, Inspector. You have no grounds whatsoever for this arrest and I would ask that my client be released immediately and that you concentrate your efforts on finding the real perpetrators of this awful attack.”

The Chief Inspector glared at his colleague.

“Moreover, I think your conduct so far has shown a lot to be desired with regard to dealing with my client. It seems that you have shown a degree of prejudice which is both illegal and offensive, given that this force has a set of policies in dealing with minorities.”

“She’s lying.”

“I think you’re the one who is being less than honest. My client is a legal female irrespective of her starting point. She is a married woman in a demanding job and with the responsibility for several children and young adults. She has helped the social services in this area by adopting several children who suffer from gender identity problems and she and her husband, Lord Cameron have assisted these and other children for the last several years.

“She is a successful university teacher and researcher, a film maker of some repute and presenter. She has also shown talent in acting and writing and finally, but not least, she has helped the forces of law and order on numerous occasions, saving the lives of police officers on more than one of those. I’d have thought she was the last person you should be either insulting or arresting.”

The chief inspector was getting increasingly red in the face and I began to fear he’d have a stroke. “Lady Cameron, Mr Mitten, it seems there has been a great mistake, I can only apologise for my colleague’s erroneous thinking and would understand if you wanted to take things further–but that’s up to you. You are free to go Lady Cameron, and I’m once again sorry that this has happened.”

We both shook hands with the Chief Inspector and were released from the room. I thanked Kit with a hug and peck on the cheek. “How could such an idiot get to inspector? He’s too stupid to hand out parking tickets,” Kit said as we walked to his car. He’d offered me a lift home and I was grateful for it.

“I’ll start proceedings against him for wrongful arrest amongst other things,” Kit said as he drove me home. I nodded my agreement. I didn’t really care, my worry was Cortez and bringing him down–I’d need to speak with James to do that.