“Regretfully not”, replied Jack “but if you would be gracious enough to say that it is Mr Jack Richards, here on behalf of Mr Christian Woodcock, Her Majesty`s Inspector of Constabulary, he will know the nature of our business.”

The man hesitated, then went into the office and spoke in welsh

A lady appeared looked, but said nothing just returned inside. It was only a moment or so when a Chief Superintendent arrived, his name badge indicated it was Morris Jones.

“Ah yes the Chief will see you, would you please follow me”.

They did so and arrived in a lift and eventually arrived at floor ten. The lift stopped and Jones alighted the two visitors followed closely eventually arriving at the door marked Chief Constable, Winston Myers, QPM.

 A knock brought a reply “Please come in.”

Once inside they saw a lady in her mid forties wearing the name badge Bronwen Watson, Secretary, Chief Constable.

She smiled and pleasantly said, “Good day to you”

“Ah Bronwen, the Chief is expecting these two visitors” said Jones, “I will leave them with you, I need to bring something which I am pretty sure will be required”.

“Thank you Morris, please if you would both be seated I will go and tell the Chief, he is just momentarily engaged on a call to the Welsh Office”.

After a moment or so her telephone buzzed she answered and replied, “Yes sir”.

Looking up she turned to the visitors and announced, “The Chief will see you now”.

     She went to the door, opened it and permitted them to walk past her as she held the door open allowing them to enter, though she herself did not do so, but closed the door.

Arriving inside the room it was large with a panoramic view of the town but beyond, the wonderous scenery of the hills of North Wales.

The room contained various pictures including those of Her Majesty the Queen, one in full ceremonial dress including crown, there were others of a visit she had made to the Police Headquarters for Jack clearly recalled the scenes around the building from when he had arrived.

“I am pleased to meet you Mr Richards and Inspector Scott-Ling though the circumstances are at least very unusual.  How can the North Wales Police assist you then”?

Jack Richards spoke, “I assume you are aware as to the nature of our enquiry in this sad affair”?

“Yes indeed I am, how very sad it was and such a shock for poor Ceinwen and of course all of us.”

“That was something” thought Jack “at least he knows the name of the widow”.

“What can we do then Jack?, you don`t mind if I call you Jack, being an ex copper”.

Jack laughed and replied, “By all means Chief, Jackson is the name my mother lumbered me with, I prefer Jack”.

“I would if possible,” continued Richards, “ like to examine the deceased officer`s personnnel file and then speak with the widow”.

“Ah yes, I have actually just spoken with the Welsh Office and they in turn spoke with the Home Secretary. I am pleased to say authority has in fact been granted for you to have a copy of the file, you appreciate, although I know you are fully aware of this, but I have to say, you will be aware the contents will be for your eyes only”.

“Yes indeed sir”, said Richards “but you will realise that eventually my findings if any, which may include some of the contents of the file will have to be related to the office of Her Majesty`s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and to the Home Office, it will be for them to decide what if any information can be released and to whom”.

“Yes of course the system wouldn`t work without, ah just a moment I think I can hear Morris Jones coming”.

There was a knock on the door to which the Chief called, “Come on in Morris did you get the file?”

“I did sir,” he replied and produced the brown folder handing it to Jack”.

“Is there any possibility I might loan an office for a few minutes to peruse the contents”.

“Why certainly” replied the Chief Super.

“May I thank you so very much for your cooperation Mr Myers, by the way you don`t sound Welsh”.

“I am not Welsh, I am a Geordie. I applied for this job and the police committee at that time stated they wanted a Chief who was Welsh speaking, I assured them if they would offer me the post I would learn Welsh and so I did.  I can speak the lingo the same as the rest but these buggers won`t accept me as anything else but that “ Bloody Englishman coming yer, isnt that a fact Jones?”

“Well sir, I wouldn`t say that”.

“You wouldn’t but I would. T-

-hanks Mr Richards, need any more help in the future, either contact Jones here or myself, I hope you find nothing and don’t think I am being bitchy”.

“I won’t sir and thank you once again; I will more than likely be in touch.”

They left the office and arrived in a room in the ground floor marked interview room.

The final words of the Chief Super were also helpful, “I will put the sign on the door saying do not disturb and I will get Idris the local beat officer to inform Ceinwen you will be visiting. Idris will take you up there, when you are ready”.

“Thank you Chief Superintendent” said Jack and they were alone.

He opened the file and she sat beside him as he turned the pages, on reaching the end he turned to the start reading aloud this time, Ifor Evans, previous occupation building worker, he joined the police three years ago in the month of January. I see three years ago that is interesting, the number of days sick was nil. His conduct was good; he married two years ago there no children.

He closed the file; “some interesting points nothing startling but a start”.

He gave the file to Doris, she put it in her brief case, and they left the office she realised now what the phrase a bag carrier meant. On arrival downstairs, they were met by a uniformed constable who immediately introduced himself as Idris Roberts.

“If you are ready like, I will take you up to see Ceinwen. She has settled a bit now mind”

“Thank you officer” replied Doris and once outside the three climbed into Doris’s car and were off as Idris sitting in the rear seat poked his arm between the heads of the two investigators giving directions left and right not mentioning the Welsh street names assuming they would not understand.

They arrived at the house; it was a typical police house, Jack thought, a square building, square windows, no character, a typical house from the same plan they used in police forces years ago.

Knocking on the door Ceinwen answered, they could hear a shuffling inside and a door bang.

The lady who answered the door appeared to be in her late thirties with blonde hair but from a bottle, she was wearing make up which was smudged on the lips.

“Mornin” was her first word, typical slang thought Jack, mornin not good morning.

 She then said “you the investigators into Ifor’s death, bloody strange affair?”

“Yes Mrs Evans”, replied Doris, “I am Inspector Doris Scott-Ling of the Cheshire Police and this is Mr Jack Richards. We are tasked with just looking into the death of Ifor for there were several others similar, nothing for you to worry about”.

“Suspect murder do you?” “Well they said it was natural causes see, I doubted it but what can you do bugger all?”

Jack smiled at the word natrul not natural another Welsh slang word, much to be expected here in North Wales.

“Come in will you?” Asked Ceinwen “the bloody neighbours will be gabbing enough as it is seeing another copper and a man wearing a hat like the old detectives did, always around these parts they were in the old days”

They stepped inside but Doris turned and said, “Thank you Constable Roberts we can manage now, you have been very helpful”.

“I will continue patrol then if I am not wanted like”.

“Thank you once again officer,” said Jack.

Once inside the house he looked around it was typical working class, side board, three piece suite, gas fire, it was basic but clean”.