GRIEF ENCOUNTERS - Stuart Pawson

Detective Inspector Charlie Priest is sitting in the monthly superintendent’s briefing doodling idly on his notepad when Detective Chief Superintendent Colin Swainby, one of the ugliest men ever to don a uniform, announces he is leaving the force. He adds that certain allegations are going to be made about him and asks that he be given the benefit of the doubt.

Shortly after that a local member of parliament is photographed in a compromising position in the back of his car. He too chooses to bow out quietly, only he finds a much more permanent method.

A respectable headmistress of a local private girls’ school is picked up on a drink driving charge. She claims to have been the victim of a cruel trick at the hands of a man she met at a speed dating night.  There is no reason why Charlie should believe her, but he does. Three prominent members of the community have had their previously unblemished careers damaged or destroyed by scandal. Perhaps there is a connection.

These events fade into the background when a photograph of an unidentified murder victim is circulated, asking the various stations if anyone can identify the woman. She was found beaten to death with no identification on her.  The only clue is a rather distinctive tattoo on her buttock saying “property of the pope”.  Charlie recognises the victim from his days as an art student. She was one of the regular models who posed for his life class.