‘Maybe they could be female? They haven’t clarified the actual size and make yet.’

‘We know Justine Harris turned up shortly after the murder was discovered and behaved irrationally. According to the guv it felt as if she was going to kick the body. If you ask me, we should have been considering her as a suspect from day one.’

Spencer raised his eyebrows. ‘Do you want to run that by the guv?’

Jane shook her head. ‘No, it’s just a bit of a gut feeling. If we get a warrant, maybe we’ll find something incriminating.’ Jane stood up and put the diary back into the envelope.

DC Tony Johnson barged into the room, holding the door open awkwardly as he heaved in four folding chairs.

‘Guv wants the diary and asked me to tell you there is going to be a briefing. I dunno what time it’s going down, but if not this afternoon then tomorrow morning.’ He stacked the chairs and walked out as Dors carried in a heavy portable slide projector, setting it up at the end of the table.

‘Commander Dartford and Detective Chief Superintendent Walker are in with the guv. They’ve been closeted in there for half the afternoon.’

‘Did something happen while we were out?’ Jane asked.

‘I dunno. DI Arnold was in with them, that’s all I know. Me and Tony are hacked off as we’ve been back running the station and working shifts for the usual array of shoplifters while you nobs are all interviewing movie stars.’

Spencer put his jacket on and gave a warning look to Dors. ‘Mind your mouth.’ He turned to Jane. ‘I guess we better get cracking on writing our reports about the diary.’

‘I haven’t even started yet.’

‘Well, we better get a move on. I think something serious is going down.’

‘Finding a man disemboweled isn’t serious enough for you?’

‘No, listen to me, Jane. I’ve heard that Walker, the Divisional Senior Detective – the bloke who monitors murder investigations – is coming in. So the pair of us need to get more information and make sure we are up to speed.’

‘Honestly, Spence,’ said Jane. ‘I’ve been doing report after report after report. I don’t think Arnold is pulling his weight.’

‘You’re telling me that? Listen, I’ve been covering a lot of work in Arnold’s absence and I’ve had no thanks for it. If the big chief is coming in, I want to make a good impression because of previously blotting my effing copy book.’

‘And being demoted for it.’

Spencer grinned, unrolling a tie from his jacket pocket. ‘I am going to prove, DS Tennison, that I am an exceptionally capable officer.’

Jane laughed. ‘Well, if I were you, Spence, I would hold that tie over the spout of the steaming kettle first. It looks as if you slept in it.’