“I don’t want us to be seen to be sparing any expense on this one,” said ACC McLaughlin. “I know things have been tight recently, and it might seem like a cynical move, releasing more resources for what we know to be a high-profile case, but that’s the way these things go.”

“I can’t see anyone objecting, sir,” said Banks. “It is the murder of a child, after all.”

McLaughlin nodded and turned to Gervaise. “Catherine?”

“Plainclothes officers are rather thin on the ground,” said Gervaise, “but I can let you have civilian staff to man a murder room here at the station. We can also find a few more uniformed officers to help with the door-to-doors and so on. You, DI Cabbot and DC Masterson will be working the case full-time, and I hardly need tell you there’ll be no leave until the matter is settled. You can also use our CID resources as you need. Just come and ask. They can also take over general duties day-to-day while you’re occupied with this business.”

It was nothing less than Banks expected, though he did feel he could do with another detective on his team. With DS Winsome Jackman away on maternity leave, expecting her first child at any moment, and his second DC, Doug Wilson, having recently left the force, he was lower than he had ever been on staff. The extra uniformed officers would help, of course, but there would still be a lot of work for the three detectives. “I suppose I can manage with Gerry and Annie for the time being, but I’ll want a major trawl for information, especially possible sightings. As of now, we don’t know where the lad came from, or how he got here. Someone must have seen him. We doubt he’s from around here—nobody on the estate admits to recognizing him—and when we found him he had nothing but a small stash of coke in his pocket. No money, no belongings, no identification, no keys. Nothing. That stuff must be somewhere, and someone must have seen him coming and going. Bus station. Taxi ranks. Trains.”

Gervaise nodded. “We’ll get extra uniformed officers and PCSOs out on it today.”

McLaughlin cleared his throat. “You should also perhaps liaise with drugs squad officers at County HQ, as you require.”

“Thanks, sir,” said Banks, though after his conversation with DI MacDonald the previous evening he wasn’t sure which drugs squad detectives he should be trusting.

McLaughlin stood up and straightened his uniform. “Right. I’d better get back. Catherine. Alan.” He nodded to them, put his cap on and left the office.

“Well . . .” said AC Gervaise, visibly relaxed after her boss’s departure. “That went well. What do you think about the drugs angle?”

“We only found a small amount. Just enough for personal use. As yet, there’s no reason to think the boy’s murder was drug-related.”

“Come on, Alan. If you take into account that his body was found on the East Side Estate and that DI MacDonald felt it necessary to let you know Connor Clive Blaydon was in the area at the time, I think we can live with the assumption that something might have been going on. It has county lines written all over it.” Gervaise stood up. “I have to go. Don’t forget, Alan, brief me after your morning meeting.”