‘You know I told you to go easy on this one. You’ve no need to go wandering the streets of Creggan looking for witnesses,’ he says. ‘You never know what you’re getting mixed up in with Declan.’

‘I wasn’t looking for witnesses,’ I tell him. ‘I was just getting a sense of the place. How it’s changed over the years. You know, that famous “colour” you talk about. I was just doing my job.’

‘Your job is to follow the instructions given to you by your editor and bring me the copy I ask you to write. You don’t get to set the news agenda, Ingrid. That’s my job and you’d do well to remember that.’

‘As if I could forget,’ I tell him, my voice barely hiding my frustration. It’s not often Ryan pulls rank with me. He has always trusted my judgement and my methods. I don’t like feeling as if I’ve annoyed him. ‘And hopefully Kelly’s family will talk,’ I say. ‘I know it’s more than colour, but it’s an exclusive. They’ve never spoken to anyone about what happened.’

‘Well look, here’s my advice. Don’t push the Dohertys too hard. We have to do all we can to maintain our reputation as different to the gutter press. We don’t want to be seen to be hounding a grieving family.’

‘I’m not hounding them,’ I say, my tone sharp. ‘I’m going through appropriate channels. I’ve made an approach through Lorcan Duffy, their local councillor,’ I continue. ‘I do my job, Ryan, and I do it well, but if you don’t want the story this time, I won’t pursue it. For you.

‘But that doesn’t stop me taking a personal interest and if another newspaper feels braver, well, I’m not going to rule out helping them. In my own time, of course. We all know this paper is in trouble and I’m not prepared to sink with it. I want to make a name for myself.’

He blinks; his mouth opens and shuts. Just as I’m not used to him pulling rank, he’s not used to me pushing back.

I stand up, ready to make a dramatic exit from the room.

‘Ingrid,’ he says as I turn to leave.

I face him, arms folded across my chest, expression stern.

‘I know you think you’re the big “I am” these days, but pride comes before a fall,’ he says. ‘You might think you know it all, but there are times when experience matters more in this industry. There are things more important than bylines and flashy headlines.’

He is speaking in what I call his ‘arrogant arsehole’ voice. If we were alone, properly alone, I’d call him out on it. Tell him he gets an A plus for being patronising.