Robinson sighed. ‘Prowling around the school at night. What if you’d been seen?’

‘I knew I wouldn’t be seen.’

‘You just said you nearly were,’ Robinson replied annoyed.

Cardilini matched him, ‘Well, I wasn’t.’

The two men stared at each other.

Cardilini sighed, ‘Okay. So what are these?’

Robinson sat, his manner relaxing, ‘Some kind of silly kid’s thing.’ He pondered Cardilini for a moment.

‘What?’

‘Your behaviour is starting to go off the radar, Cardilini. We’ve all noticed it but it seems to be getting more erratic.’

‘Me?’

‘You’re bringing me kids’ drawings,’ Robinson replied frustrated, ‘And where was your partner? Rule number one.’

‘Salt?’

‘Yes, Salt.’

‘I was going to but at the time I . . .’

‘Wasn’t thinking clearly, I’d say.’

Cardilini tried sitting shame-faced for a moment while Robinson stared at him. Then he asked, ‘Have you seen this before?’

Robinson stared at Cardilini as if making up his mind and said solemnly, ‘It’s just disgruntled kids, nothing to do with Edmund’s death. Cardilini, think about taking compassionate leave. You’ve got ghosts and they’re stopping you from seeing clearly.’

Cardilini looked back, dumbfounded. He knew he wasn’t the copper he used to be but had never considered he wasn’t capable of the job. He enquired cautiously, ‘What about Paul?’

‘You get yourself together and I’m sure there’ll be a place for him.’

‘When?’ Cardilini asked anxiously.

‘When the placement notices go out he’ll receive one in the mail. Don’t muck that up, Cardilini. Are these all the sketches?’

‘Yes,’ Cardilini lied, hanging his head.

‘Sure?’

‘Yes.’

‘Now go. I’ll ring tonight. Go. And if you have any desire to stay in the force, don’t mention these. It’s too ridiculous. You were such a good cop. But I’ve just about had enough.’

Cardilini walked to the door slowly, turning a few times seemingly to convince himself that this was happening. Robinson pointed to the door and mouthed, ‘Out.’

Cardilini hovered at the top of the stairs. He took the remaining sketch from his pocket and studied it. Robinson had said ‘just disgruntled kids’. Disgruntled, about what? Cardilini started back, then decided against it and continued towards his office.

‘Where have you been?’ Bishop called.

‘Robinson.’

‘What now?’

‘He thinks I’m losing it.’

Bishop tried to remain expressionless and dropped his eyes to the paperwork on his desk.

‘What? No pep talk? Not going to say, I’m a great copper?’ Cardilini asked.

Bishop’s expression was blank when he raised his head.

‘Thanks for nothing,’ Cardilini said and walked off.

He stood looking at his desk, opened a drawer and pulled out a framed photo of himself, his wife Betty, and a young Paul. He put it on his desk before returning it to the drawer.

Speaking to no one in particular he called, ‘Got work to do.’

‘Too early for the pub, Cardilini,’ came a reply.

‘That’s what you think,’ Cardilini said and left.

Crossing the car park, Cardilini heard running footsteps behind him.

‘Should I get a car?’ Salt asked.