“The thing is…?”

Tyler opened his mouth, closed it, then took another run-up at what he was attempting to say.

“The thing is, boss… Remember the accident I was—”

Another burst of ringing from the phone cut the sentence short. This time, Logan picked up the receiver, slammed it down, then took it off the hook.

“Continue,” he said, still holding eye contact with the younger detective.

Tyler raised an unsteady finger and pointed to the phone. “Are you sure you shouldn’t…?”

“It can wait. What is it you want to tell me, son? I’m on the edge of my bloody seat here.”

“Right. Aye. Sorry, boss.” Tyler cleared his throat, smoothed down the front of his shirt, sat up a little straighter, then began to speak.

He made it all of three words when the Incident Room was flooded with light, and a stern female voice demanded, “Is he in?”

“He’s, um, he’s in a meeting,” both men heard Sinead say, but the quiet thunder of approaching footsteps made them both turn their attention to the door just as it was thrown open to reveal a small black woman who somehow gave the impression she was three times her physical size.

“Answer your phone when I call you, Detective Chief Inspector,” Detective Superintendent Mitchell said in a tone that made it very clear that he would not enjoy the consequences of ignoring this request.

“I was in a meeting,” Logan told her. He pointed to Tyler, as if presenting evidence.

Tyler, who was closer to the DSup and so more directly in the line of fire, smiled apologetically and gave a little wave, and was immensely grateful that she chose to ignore both these actions.

“Yes, well, I’m sure it can wait,” Mitchell said. “And, even if it can’t, it’ll have to. You’ve had a shout. A bad one. Two adults, two kids. Home invasion, by the looks of things. That’s the local take on it, anyway.”

“Jesus. Where?”

“South of Fort William.”

“Again? We just got back from there,” Logan remarked.

“I’m well aware of that. I swear, they must be putting something in the water down there,” Mitchell said. “I want you on the road within the hour. This has the potential to go very public very quickly. I want it contained and dealt with.”

“Aye. We’ll get right on it, Ma’am,” Logan said.

“Make sure you do. Within the hour,” Mitchell reiterated. She pointed to his phone. “Now, put that back on the hook. And for goodness’ sake, Jack, straighten your bloody tie.”

The door swung closed as she left. Logan listened to her retreating footsteps until he reckoned she was safely out of earshot, then returned his attention to Tyler.

“You were saying?”