‘I suppose you know the gossip about you being transferred here from the Sweeney?’

‘I’m really not that interested in any gossip about me,’ she replied firmly.

‘Well, you should be. I wouldn’t like anyone saying I screwed up and as a result of that another officer was wounded.’

Jane stopped dead in her tracks. ‘What did you just say?’

Spencer grinned. ‘Just repeating the gossip I heard, about the Big Boys being on some armed robbery of a security van, and that it started to look like the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Word has it that you were unarmed and came face-to-face with one of the raiders, who took a shot at you with a revolver.’

Spencer was enjoying himself, despite the fact that Jane was seething.

‘I heard you froze, and another officer had to push you out of the way and he got shot in the shoulder.’

Jane had to take a deep breath and lean against the wall. She felt like bursting into tears, but instead she gritted her teeth and snapped at him, ‘Yes, I did freeze, and I admit I was unable to defend myself or anyone near me. But I was not to blame for what happened, even if DCI Murphy said that I was a contributory factor to one of his expert officers being shot.’ She felt herself sagging. ‘He gave me a warning and said that I would be disciplined and might even be demoted.’

Spencer suddenly looked guilty. He tapped a cigarette out from his soft pack and lit it. Even though Jane loathed the smell of tobacco she occasionally smoked when stressed. Her hand was shaking when she took the cigarette and inhaled deeply.

‘Murphy wanted to get rid of me from the very first day I joined the Sweeney. Well, he got what he wanted. I’ll never forget his sarcasm when he said that after my near-death experience, he felt the Flying Squad was not for me. He told me that if I agreed to a transfer, then his report wouldn’t be so harsh.’

Jane dragged on the cigarette again. She was feeling a little bit calmer but was still very emotional.

‘I had asked to have weapons training, not once but three times. Murphy ignored me. So then when I did come face-to-face . . . ’ Jane dropped the cigarette butt on the ground and stubbed it out with her shoe. ‘Well, there you have it. I did freeze, because I was terrified.’

Jane was taken aback when Spencer drew her into his arms and held her tightly, but it felt comforting.

‘Listen, Jane, don’t blame yourself. If I hear one more prat spreading any gossip about you, they’ll regret it.’ Spencer stepped back and gave her one of his trademark smiles. ‘You’d better pick up that butt and put it in the ashtray on the wall, or I’ll report you.’