‘Well, she got hold of some, didn’t she.’ God’s sake. Logan marched off a couple of steps, then back again. ‘Does she get violent when she’s not taking her medication? ’

Garfield stared down at the half-eaten slice in his hand. ‘We didn’t tell you, because we didn’t want it splashed all over the papers. Bad enough she has to live with her problems, without every bugger looking at her like she’s got two heads. None of their business.’

‘Is she violent? Yes or no.’

‘Agnes is a sweet little girl. She’s more likely to hurt herself than anyone else.’ He closed his eyes. ‘That’s why you have to find her. . .’

Chapter 19

19

‘Going to be sodding late. . .’ Steel had one last dig at her bra, then slammed the passenger door shut.

The rear podium was packed with patrol and pool cars, the Chief Constable’s new Bentley standing on its own like a leper with halitosis. Everyone too scared of scratching the thing to park anywhere near it.

Logan plipped the pool car’s locks. ‘It’s five-to. You’ve got plenty of time.’

‘How am I supposed to have a fag, grab a coffee, shout at Rennie, and get to the meeting on time? ’ She hauled up her trousers. ‘Didn’t even want to go to the sodding thing in the first place. Bunch of stuffed shirts stuck in a room moaning. How are we supposed to stop the forensic monkeys going on strike? We’re no’ the ones buggering them about.’

‘And now you’ve got four minutes.’

Steel glanced up at the lump of concrete and glass. ‘Go and do the meeting for us, eh? ’

‘No chance. I’ve got a forensic anthropologist to chase up.’

‘Be good for you: character building. You can—’

‘What’s more important: you sloping out of the meeting, or us catching whoever necklaced that poor bugger? ’

‘Well. . .’ A scowl made the wrinkles gang up on Steel’s narrow lips. ‘While we’re on the subject, I told you to tell your bloody mother to sod off and stop whining on about spending more time with Jasmine. She’s your mother. Fix her!’ Then Steel wheeled around and stomped off through the back doors to FHQ.

Logan waited until they’d clunked shut behind her, before sticking two fingers up.

The steps down to the mortuary entrance were a shadowy graveyard for discarded crisp packets and cigarette butts, blown in off the rear podium. He picked his way down the stairs, rang the bell, waved at the security camera, waited for the bzzzzzz. . . Then stepped through the door and into the land of the dead.

Today, the land of the dead smelled like bleach and rehydrated curry.

He stuck his head into the staff room.