‘I need to talk to the duty inspector in uniform first, ma’am.’ Paula was at her most conciliatory. ‘The misper I caught on my way in yesterday. I have to brief them, make sure they’re taking it seriously.’

Fielding’s perfectly groomed eyebrows rose. ‘Any reason why they wouldn’t take it seriously?’

Paula knew she had to tread carefully. She was the new girl here; she had no idea where the political lines were drawn in this nick. ‘No reason. But I know the misper, ma’am. Her son gave me the key to their house. I wanted to pass it on personally. Just so they know I’ve got an interest. And so I can give them a backgrounder.’

‘Have you been poking your nose in where you shouldn’t, McIntyre? You’re not with the MIT any more. We respect each other’s boundaries in this nick. Have you not got enough on your plate with a murder that you have to do uniform’s job for them?’ Fielding didn’t bother to lower her voice. The officers nearest them pretended not to notice, but Paula knew it was all sinking in. She could feel her ears burning.

‘Like I said. I know the misper. Her son is staying with us for the time being.’

Fielding froze in the middle of turning a page. ‘Are we talking minor here?’

‘He’s fourteen.’

Fielding stared at her as if she was mad. ‘What were you thinking? You should have called social services. Or a relative. Last time I looked, you weren’t on the list of appropriate adults.’

Righteous indignation was in danger of trumping good sense. ‘His nearest relatives are in Bristol. His dad’s in the army, in Afghanistan. I considered he was less at risk in my spare room than in an emergency placement.’ She paused. ‘Ma’am.’ She couldn’t make Fielding out. Where was her compassion? This woman was a mother. If anyone should understand Paula’s reasoning, it was someone who had a kid of their own.

Fielding gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Go and brief the duty inspector, then. And make it quick. We’ve got a murder here and that takes precedence over everything else.’ She waved a hand at Paula in a gesture of impatient dismissal. Paula was halfway to the door when Fielding called after her. ‘And if you plan on carrying on with the child-minding, for Christ’s sake get consent from the relatives. I don’t want to have to arrest you and your girlfriend for unlawful imprisonment.’

Someone guffawed, another sniggered. Welcome to Skenfrith Street, Paula thought bitterly. The home of modern policing.