Admission of Innocence, chapter 1, part 6
The two priests looked hopefully towards Peter, who dropped his eyes and seemed to be busily studying the newspaper again. They waited in silence. Eventually Peter felt that he had to say something.
‘I’m not at all sure I’m the right person for the job. I’ve never investigated a crime without a team of police officers behind me. Can’t this Vanessa’s solicitor find a proper private detective to do it?’
‘I told you – they think she ought to plead guilty,’ Gerry replied quickly. ‘You’re our only hope. Damien thought you’d understand Vanessa’s predicament.’
‘I suppose I do,’ Peter sighed, ‘but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to be able to do anything to help. If the police haven’t found any evidence that anyone else was involved, then it’s very unlikely that I will, working on my own.’
‘But it’s got to be worth a try …,’ Damien suggested.
Peter sat uncomfortably in his chair, conscious of the silent scrutiny of the two priests.
‘I’ll have to think about this,’ he said at last. ‘I’ve never been asked to do anything like this before.’
‘Sure. Take your time,’ Gerry said, detecting a softening in Peter’s resolve, ‘but if you could come up with a decision before I go back this afternoon, I’d really appreciate it.’
‘I’m sorry. I really don’t know.’ Peter wrestled in his mind with conflicting emotions. He had a deep respect for Father Damien and did not want to refuse any request from him. He also felt sympathy for this woman whom everyone seemed to agree had suffered at the hands of her husband and did not deserve to be sent to jail for his murder. Yet, it did not seem right to be questioning the meticulous police work, which he knew his colleagues must have carried out in order to reach the point at which she was being prosecuted. Not that the police always got it right – and with such an obvious suspect, perhaps they would have been tempted not to look too hard for an alternative. And then again, if he were to take on this commission, would that just be raising false hopes? What chance was there that he would find the real culprit when the official enquiry had failed?
‘I’m sorry,’ he repeated. ‘I – I – I’m going to have to ask Mary about this.’ He got up and made for the door. ‘I’ll try not to be long.’
to be continued ...