‘Yes, well, I don’t remember you speaking up at the time.’

‘It’s something I regret,’ Cardilini said with a fair approximation of a hangdog expression.

‘What’s the case?’

‘St Nicholas College. A shooting accident.’

‘A shooting? That I haven’t heard about? I don’t think so,’ Acorn closed his file.

‘The super dealt with it himself. The case is still a bit hush-hush,’ Cardilini said with a wink.

Acorn shook his head in annoyance and made an entry in his diary. ‘I can’t help you if I don’t have details of the case.’

‘I’m currently writing the report. I just need some advice regarding the firearm in question.’

‘What do you want to know?’

‘The schools that go in for cadet training, do they hold .303 rifles?’ Cardilini asked.

‘That’s not a firearm question.’

‘A bit of leeway, please, Acorn.’

‘It’s Senior Sergeant.’

‘Implied,’ Cardilini assured.

‘Army, Navy or Air Force Cadets?’

‘I don’t know. Any. All.’

‘Typical Cardilini,’ Acorn tutted, ‘Yes, they’d have .303 rifles. Schools with a cadet program are required to have an armoury and secure all firearms.’

‘Would St Nicholas College?’

‘Yes. They would and do. The code of every rifle they have is recorded and stored.’

‘Where?’

‘Here. Where do you think?’

‘Are they .303s, ex-service rifles?’

‘That’s correct.’

‘Could you tell me how many rifles they hold?’

‘Could I, or, will I?’

‘Will you?’

‘This is a legitimate enquiry? Right, Cardilini?’

‘Yes. Absolutely.’

‘And if I rang Bishop?’ Acorn reached for the phone.

‘Sure. Sure.’

‘I shouldn’t trust you, Cardilini,’ Acorn said withdrawing his hand.

‘No, this is one hundred per cent. Do you think I would risk doing that to you again?’ Cardilini asked earnestly.

Acorn paused for a moment before he picked up his phone and dialled. ‘Mrs Allenby, would you bring me the list of firearms and munitions held at St Nicholas College? Thank you.’ Acorn hung up and indicated for Cardilini to note the time.

Cardilini did and smiled back encouragingly. Acorn maintained an expectant expression as he stared at Cardilini for the two minutes it took for Mrs Allenby to drop the file on his desk.

‘Two minutes,’ Acorn said pleased.

‘Very impressive,’ Cardilini replied and hoped his facial expression was saying the same.

‘Forty-two,’ Acorn read from the file.

‘Can I borrow a bit of paper?’ Cardilini asked as he patted his pockets for a pen.

Acorn shook his head in disgust and placed a clean sheet of paper and a pen on his desk. Cardilini scribbled as Acorn dictated, ‘Forty-two Lee Enfield 4 Mk 1, two Owen Machine Guns. No live rounds.’

‘That can’t be right,’ Cardilini blurted.

‘What, can’t be right?’ Acorn scrutinised the file.

‘No live rounds,’ Cardilini replied.

‘That’s what the record says. And the record is correct. It’s signed off by the Officer in Charge, C A P T A C Edmund.’

‘Edmund?’

‘Yes. I’ve actually spoken to him. Very military chap. Very thorough.’

‘Where do they get the live rounds from?’ Cardilini asked while writing.