Robinson nodded. ‘Yes. But maybe we’re all to blame for this mess. Don’t think you’re the only one in the firing line. As you pointed out, the deputy commissioner and I weren’t as thorough as we could have been in the initial investigation. You produce a murderer right now and it will be our blood on the floor.’

‘Surely, the minister could help. Christ, he owes us a favour,’ Cardilini stated.

‘And if we said anything about what we did to save his backside it would support the theory of police cover-ups. No thanks. Look, I just want you to know things could quickly move out of our control.’

‘Meaning?’

Robinson paused before saying, ‘There’s a push within the school board to bring a prosecution against you.’

‘Jesus.’

‘Would you come out squeaky clean? Factually, evidence-based, squeaky clean? Or are there things that could be brought up, such as lone meetings in toilets or elsewhere that could sink you?’ Robinson asked.

‘Oh, no.’ Cardilini hung his head.

‘Don’t tell me. Don’t tell me. Jesus, Cardilini.’

‘I could have been played from the beginning,’ Cardilini said.

‘Maybe, or maybe you went in as a disaster waiting to happen.’

‘What?’

Robinson replied. ‘You heard. Anyway, that’s what the shrink said. Can’t say I disagree.’

‘Shrink? Bloody Pudsworth? He’s a bloody idiot,’ Cardilini shot back.

‘Yeah, and I know you’ve told him on a number of occasions.’

‘Only because he is,’ Cardilini insisted.

‘Well, the worm has turned, Cardilini. I wouldn’t keep repeating that if I were you.’

‘But he is.’

‘Cardilini!’ Robinson warned.

‘Bloody hell.’

Robinson continued. ‘You’re going to go through the ropes on this one, as in by the book, so there’s a good chance you’ll have to front up to him sometime. Go home. If you’re capable of not upsetting things further, do so. If you can’t, don’t look to the department to save your backside. And remember, even if Edmund was doing what’s suggested, it still doesn’t mean he was murdered.’

‘No. Okay. What if all further investigation to do with Edmund were to stop? And the whole thing was forgotten? What would happen then?’

‘Is that what you’re proposing?’ Robinson asked.

‘Just asking?’

‘It would make a lot of people happy and get them off our backs.’

‘What about my back?’

Robinson considered for a moment then said, ‘I should think so.’

As he walked from Robinson’s office he repeated to himself, Save your arse, Cardilini, for the length of the corridor.

He stopped at Bishop’s door and asked, ‘This is your fault, Bishop. Why did you give me the St Nicholas case?’

‘Your mate Salt will be asking that too. He’s just been bounced to the Wickham police station. He went from a rooster to a feather duster real quick.’

‘Salt?’