‘Looks that way,’ Elton replied. ‘Which tells us what?’

‘That this guy’s got something to do with Longman’s murder. Why else would Levy be there?’

‘My thoughts exactly. Which begs the question, Sarah: why the hell did you not know about this?’

Sarah was startled by Elton’s tone. Her boss did not sound happy.

‘What does that mean?’

‘I thought the two of you had an arrangement. That we’d sit on what we knew for now. In exchange for which she’d keep you updated on all developments. So we’d be ready for an exclusive.’

‘That’s pretty much what we agreed, yeah.’

‘Then what the hell is she doing in Essex? Making an arrest that’s all over the bloody internet without giving you any kind of a heads-up?’

‘It’s not that strict an arrangement, James.’ Sarah had not been entirely truthful when reporting her interactions with Levy. She had made no mention of what was amounting to a fledgling friendship. ‘She can’t involve me in everything.’

‘Then what use is she to us, Sarah?’ Elton was not hiding his irritation. ‘We’ve sat on a big bit of news for her. The crucifixions. The connection between Longman and Blunt. For Christ’s sake, we’ve got evidence of a bloody serial killer and we haven’t reported it. And for what? Because I don’t see anything coming back our way.’

‘It’s a long game, James. It’s—’

‘It’s too long a game, Sarah. I’m through waiting for Levy to throw us a bone. The next information we get, we chase it and when we’re ready we report it. No more keeping quiet to help the police. It’s not like they’ll ever acknowledge the assistance anyway.’

‘But what about what Levy’s already told us, James?’ Sarah could feel her ethical code being dismantled. ‘That was strictly off the record. If we go back on that then we’ll never have any trust with the police again. We can’t do that.’

Sarah knew that her point had been a good one; there were implications to what he had to decide. Both short term and long term.

A compromise was needed.

‘OK,’ Elton finally said. ‘We settle it this way. Anything you’ve been told up to now – anything you’ve discussed with Levy on a promise you’ll stay quiet – we can honour that; there’s no point burning bridges when we don’t have to. But anything new, Sarah. Anything new is ours. Levy is not your partner. You don’t owe her anything. So the next lead – every bloody lead from now on – is ours. And they’re not for sharing. You got that?’

‘There are legs in the relationship I’ve built with Levy, James. I really don’t think we should throw it away.’

‘Then don’t throw it away. Stay friendly, Sarah. And by all means be Levy’s sounding board. Something good might come of it, so discuss the things you already know to your heart’s content. But from now on it’s a one-way street. Understand? Our leads are our leads. Simple as that.’