Hawkins groaned internally. Chris had only joined the Met a few months earlier, straight out of university, on accelerated development. His scores in management aptitude tests were supposedly off the chart, but the guy was barely beyond his teens, and Hawkins had already heard rumours about some of his disastrous rookie faux pas. The sooner Chris completed his mandatory stint in the ranks and graduated to the upper echelons where he could do less harm the better, but Hawkins wasn’t keen to babysit him till then.

Vaughn clearly sensed her hesitation. ‘I know he’s a recent recruit, but he’s available today, and I’d like to give him some exposure to your side of things.’

She thought fast. ‘At the risk of sounding ungrateful, sir, I’m not sure Chris is right for this investigation. I really need someone with experience.’

‘That’s what I thought you’d say.’ Vaughn stroked his stubble. ‘OK, how about this? Take Chris, use him as best you can, and I’ll throw in a properly experienced DI, someone who’s already housebroken, to help manage the case and keep Chris out from under your feet. Two for the price of one. Better?’

‘I …’ Hawkins began to object, having already gathered what was coming next, but she stopped herself for fear of making things even worse. The arrangement probably solved a logistical headache for Vaughn, so it was almost certain to happen whether she liked it or not. And if she turned down his proposal, she might not get any help at all.

Better the devil you know.

She nodded.

‘Great.’ Vaughn was already moving towards the exit. ‘I have a meeting with Chris and Frank in five minutes, but I’ll make it quick and send them straight up.’ He paused in the doorway. ‘You might want to hold your briefing till then.’

10

‘Right.’ Hawkins ran a hand through her hair and stood as the fresh arrivals wandered in, collected chairs and joined Amala and Aaron in front of the predominantly blank investigation board.

She swallowed her frustration that it was now ten past nine, forty minutes after the morning briefing should have begun, and fifteen minutes later than Vaughn had promised so-called reinforcements – having probably hit resistance.

Hawkins also noted the blokey pat Frank applied to Aaron’s shoulder as he passed the sergeant’s chair, a reminder that the two men still shared a house. The arrangement, forged temporarily the previous winter, had stuck because the two bachelors got on so well, probably due to Aaron’s willingness to entertain Todd’s craggy opinions. The fact Aaron now extolled many of his lodger’s views didn’t bode well for their renewed partnership on the team.