Page 164 of In Too Deep

Harrison frowned. “Levenson’s first name?”

Calder got out his phone, a few taps. “Paul.”

“Right.” Harrison rubbed his forehead. So that was out.

“Though it’s technically Levenson and Son.” Calder tucked his phone back in his pocket. “Son called Roman.”

Harrison closed the folder. Something about it all suddenly felt connected in a way he couldn’t quite articulate yet and he looked again at the temporary-storage entries, then the demolition preparation scheduled for the following morning. Whatever had been moving between Blackridge Autos and Unit Twelve, someone appeared keen to clear it away. And beneath all of that sat another quiet irritation scratching at the back of his skull.

Jake.

That he was up there somewhere on this estate working for these people. Could be useful though. Someone local. Overlooked. Could give him some insight into them, their business. Guilt followed immediately after though. Because he’d spent the better part of a week warning Jake away from this investigation while privately understanding exactly why Jake kept getting dragged into it anyway. And now here he was, wondering if he could use him to gather some intel.

But, fuck it, he fished out his phone and rang him again.

Straight to voicemail.

He sighed. “Did we get all the statements from Levenson’s crew?”

“Aye. Though not from Jake Whitton.” Calder gave him another look as he sipped his drink. “Funny it always keeps coming back to him.”

Harrison ignored him. Small towns held grudges professionally.

“I’m going to review the contractor statements myself.” Harrison gathered up the ledger copies together. “And I’ll speak to Levenson directly.”

“Right y’are.” Calder wandered back towards the lock-up.

Harrison wrote a text to Jake, then spent an embarrassing amount of time debating whether adding a kiss at the end would be reckless, pathetic or both.

“Careful.”

Harrison turned. Davo stood several feet away, wiping grease from his hands with the same filthy rag he’d been carrying all morning.

“Excuse me?”

Davo drifted his gaze across the yard. “Some people round here can’t afford this kind of attention.”

Harrison pocketed his phone. “Meaning?”

“Whitton’s got a decent thing going these days. First steady work he’s had in years.” Davo tossed the rag onto a nearby bench. “Bloke works hard. Deserves it.”

“Why are you suddenly concerned about Jake?”

“Saw you two talking the other day.” Davo glanced towards the officers moving through the lock-up. “Now half of Hartswick CID are pulling my place apart.”

“Jake didn’t bring us here.”

“Might not matter. People see police crawling over their business, they start wondering who brought them.”

“What people?”

Davo gave a small shrug, but he wouldn’t meet Harrison’s gaze. “Jake’s done well to get himself straight. Would be a shame if he ended up paying for someone else’s mess.”

A shout came from inside the lock-up before Harrison could press him further.

“Guv!” One of the CSIs appeared in the doorway. “You’ll want to see this.”

Harrison turned, but Davo’s warning stayed with him.