‘Well, of course it doesn’t mean he’s guilty, but it does make it seem plausible that he killed David Armstrong. We know that he had reason to hate him, and now we’ve established he has a temper.’

‘And what about Jason?’

Ian looked sombre. ‘You heard what the pathologist said. He doesn’t think one killer was responsible for both murders.’

Neither of them suggested they go to the canteen, but they walked there almost without thinking. Before Ian’s wife had returned to him, he and Geraldine had frequently gone to the canteen together to chat over a mug of coffee. Usually their discussions had centred on work, and this occasion was no exception. They sat down at their favourite corner table where they were able to converse without being overheard, and could watch their colleagues hurrying in and out.

‘The pathologist was only voicing his opinion, based on limited information,’ Geraldine said as she took her seat.

‘Exactly. He was drawing conclusions from information which is incomplete,’ Ian grumbled.

It wasn’t the first time he had criticised the pathologist for being too free with his speculation.

‘Yes, you’re right, of course, but –’ Geraldine hesitated.

‘But what?’

For the first time since Ian had moved out of her flat, she looked up and stared directly at him. Their eyes met, and for a moment neither of them spoke. Knowing each other so well, it was difficult to hide their feelings from one another. Seeing the misery in his face, Geraldine wondered if her own feelings were as obvious to him as his were to her.

‘Playing strictly by the book isn’t always the most useful approach,’ she murmured.

Ian frowned at her words. ‘Geraldine, what are you talking about?’

She tried to explain that Jonah sometimes gave her useful insights that he would be unable to voice if he were to restrict himself to what he was allowed to tell her.

‘The point is,’ she concluded lamely, ‘he gives me helpful details, off the record. He wouldn’t be able to do that if he could only tell me what he’s actually allowed to say.’

Ian scowled. ‘He has no business saying anything he’s not allowed to say.’

Clearly Ian disagreed with Jonah speaking so candidly to her. Geraldine wasn’t sure whether Ian was being pedantic about the rules, or if he was feeling jealous of the friendship that had sprung up between her and the tubby little pathologist who, in any case, was happily married. The thought that Ian might be feeling possessive about her gave her an unexpected thrill, although it was just as likely he was asserting his authority as her senior officer, but she made no comment. The police station canteen was hardly the place for an emotional scene.