It was a dislike which had forced her to find alternatives. Other routes to a story. In other words, it had made her a better reporter.

That, Sarah thought, is why he’s smiling.

‘Good work. Really good work,’ Elton finally said. ‘Although it doesn’t help us a jot with filling this afternoon’s bulletin. So when do you think the police will start opening up?’

‘I really don’t know. It’s unusual for them to release literally nothing after this long. But then this case is unusual, considering who the victim is. In any case, we should be the first to know when they finally are ready to open up.’

‘OK.’ Elton didn’t look happy, but again he seemed to accept Sarah’s answer. ‘Just keep your ear to the ground on this, right? Stay in with Longman’s family, and stay on top of these MIT people.’

‘Absolutely,’ Sarah replied. ‘I’ll make sure we’re at the front of the queue when the time comes.’

Elton turned to address the rest of the room.

‘Right. That’s Longman’s story into the long grass for now. So how do we fill the gap for today’s main news?’

Seven of the other eight Home Affairs correspondents opened their files simultaneously, to pull out the stories they had each brought to the meeting. The eighth person – Alex Redwood – left his unopened. He had no need to trawl through papers for his story.

‘I can fill it.’ Redwood’s voice was deep but clear. Each syllable pronounced in a cut-glass English accent. Every head in the room turned towards him.

‘What have you got?’ Elton asked.

‘Another murder.’

‘Where?’

‘Southwold, in Suffolk.’

‘The coastal town?’

‘The very same.’ Redwood was unusually sure of himself. Sarah had always thought that about him. His answers now did nothing to change her view. ‘And we do have details on this one.’

Sarah knew that the final comment was aimed at her.

Redwood did not share her distaste for the darker side of their job, she knew. He had no problem with doorstepping or revealing information that made a story more salacious. It was often information he could not have come by through legitimate channels, and it was this that worried Sarah the most.

‘It’s another old guy,’ Redwood continued. He looked at Sarah as he spoke, his mouth breaking into a conceited smile.

What an asshole, Sarah thought. He actually thinks it’s a competition. Who’s got the best dead geriatric.

Redwood looked back towards Elton and when he spoke again he did so with exaggerated dramatic effect: ‘And he died badly.’

‘Oh get on with it, Alex.’ It was obvious that Elton was unimpressed with the strained delivery. ‘What do we know? Simple and quick.’

‘The murder scene was a bloodbath.’ The acting had stopped. Redwood stuck to the facts. ‘The victim was crucified, James. Literally crucified.’

A murmur shot around the room.

Sarah had not been expecting that. And from what she could tell, neither had anyone else. Including Elton.