Chapter Thirty-Six
Within walking distance from Police Headquarters there was a hotel Chap and many of his colleagues frequented from time to time; some more frequently than others. He was not a regular pubgoer but, when he did go, he never stayed long and, if he was going to have a drink, he preferred it to be with those with whom he worked, rather than drink alone—although, over the last few days, he had blotted his copybook in relation to drinking alone.
Today was different. Today, he wanted to be alone and he hoped he would not run into anyone he knew. He wanted the comfort of his own company and not to feel obliged to listen to some half-intoxicated colleague bitching about the stresses of the job, or crowing about how he had cracked a case all on his own.
The hotel dated back to t
