To Honour the Dead (18 page)

‘T
his is where it belongs,’ said Maggie, looking at the VC in a glass case, sitting on a crimson cushion next to a black and white photograph of Harold Leach in uniform and a faded newspaper cutting telling the story of his wartime bravery. ‘This is where my grandfather’s medal should be. It needs to be seen.’

‘Indeed,’ said Harris, nodding.

It was mid-morning and they were standing in one of the rooms at Roxham Museum. Around them milled a mixture of civic dignitaries and war veterans, all there for the opening of the new exhibition devoted to the area’s war heroes. Glancing at the next case, Harris noticed that it was devoted to George Mackey’s Military Cross, which sat on a cushion as well. The inspector looked round the room and frowned. Only the previous day, Rob had been extradited to stand trial in America and there had been no sign of Liz or Bethany at the courthouse in Manchester. They were not at the opening of the exhibition either.

‘So much for honouring the dead,’ murmured Harris.

‘Sorry?’

‘Nothing. Just thinking aloud.’

‘My grandfather would have been very embarrassed at all this, you know,’ said Maggie, accepting a glass of orange juice from a young woman who was circulating with a tray. She looked across at the local councillors talking to the chief constable. ‘He hated fuss.’

‘Not quite his thing, I imagine,’ said Harris, following her gaze.

‘Not really. Stuffed shirts, he used to call them.’

‘I knew there was a reason I liked him.’ The inspector’s mobile rang. Gallagher, said the read-out. Harris lifted the device to his ear. ‘Matty lad, can’t you manage without me for a couple of hours?’

‘Sorry,’ said the sergeant; Harris could hear that his colleague was trying not to laugh. ‘Roger Barnett and Sergeant Squirrel are making an appearance at the primary school this afternoon and Curtis wondered if you fancied popping along? Thinks we should be officially represented. Would have gone himself but he reckons you might derive more satisfaction from the experience.’

Gallagher lost his battle with laughter. So did Jack Harris.

A Flicker in the Night

No Age to Die

The Vengeance Man

The Latch Man

The Long Dead

Strange Little Girl

The Dead Hill

The Railway Man

To Die Alone

The Secrets Man