Richie was sitting on a low wall near the entrance, staring at the toes of his shoes, with his hands dug deep in the pockets of his jacket. It was actually a pretty decent jacket, gray, with a good cut. He managed to make it look like denim.

He didn’t look up when my shadow fell across him. He said, “Sorry.”

“Nothing to apologize for. Not to me.”

“Is he done?”

“He’s done with Emma. He’s about to move on to Jack.”

“Jesus Christ,” Richie said softly, to the sky. I couldn’t tell whether he was swearing or praying.

I said, “Kids are hell. No way round that. We all act like it’s not a problem, but the fact is, it kills every single one of us, every time. You’re not alone there.”

“I was sure I could handle it. Definite.”

“And that’s the right way to think. Always go in thinking positive. Doubts will kill you in this game.”

“I’ve never gone to bits like that before. I swear. At the scene, even: I was grand. Not a problem.”

“Yeah, you were. The scene’s different. The first look is bad, and then the worst’s over. It doesn’t keep coming at you.”

I saw his Adam’s apple jump as he swallowed. After a moment he said, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this.”

The words sounded like they hurt his throat. I said, “Are you sure you want to be?”

“All I ever wanted. Since I was a kid. Saw a program on the telly—documentary, not made-up crap.” A quick squint my way, to check if I was laughing at him. “Some old case, a girl that got killed down the country. The detective was talking about how they solved it. I thought he was the smartest guy I’d ever seen, you know? Way smarter than college professors and people like that, because he got things done. Things that mattered. I just thought … That. I want to do that.”

“And now you’re learning to do that. Like I told you yesterday, it takes time. You can’t expect to have the whole thing sussed on your first day.”

“Yeah,” Richie said. “Or else your man Quigley’s right, and I should fuck off back to Motor Vehicles and spend some more time arresting my cousins.”

“Is that what he was saying to you yesterday? When I was in with the Super?”

Richie rubbed a hand over his hair. “It doesn’t matter,” he said tiredly. “I don’t give a damn what Quigley says. I only give a damn if he’s right.”

I dusted off a piece of wall and sat down beside him. “Richie, old son,” I said. “Let me ask you something.”

His head turned towards me. He had that food-poisoned look again. I gambled that he wouldn’t puke on my suit.

“I’m betting you know I have the highest overall solve rate on this squad.”

“Yeah. I knew coming in. When the Super said he was putting me with you, I was only delighted.”