‘Maybe I should move on.’ She hardly recognized her own voice. It wasn’t a ‘poor me’ statement, and it wasn’t for effect. There was a deep desolation in her words. An emotion that surprised even her.

‘Oh, sod that for a game of soldiers.’ The Super sipped his Scotch and ignored her comment. ‘I have no intention of losing you, Nikki Galena, but I do have one last-ditch suggestion.’ He placed the shot glass back on the desk and stared at her intently. ‘I’ve had a volunteer.’

Nikki’s eyes narrowed. No one ever volunteered to work with her.

‘Detective Sergeant Joseph Easter from Fenchester has asked for a temporary transfer, so—’

‘Holy Joe! Oh, no way! I could not work with him.’

‘He’s a bloody good detective!’

‘Right! With a huge emphasis on the word good, no doubt.’ Nikki grabbed at her glass and threw a mouthful of the fiery whisky down her throat. ‘Volunteer! Oh yes, I can see what his game is!’

‘And?’

‘He knows my reputation and he clearly wants to take Good Cop/Bad Cop to a brave new dimension! Or maybe he’s after the conversion of the century, and believe me, that would rival that of St Paul on the road to Damascus!’

‘So you know something of the Bible, do you? I thought maybe you only read Butterworth’s Police Law, or Zander on PACE?’

‘Very funny! I’m not a bloody heathen. I would just prefer a detective for a sergeant, not a lay preacher.’

For the first time since she walked into the room, Nikki noticed the hint of a smile on the superintendent’s face.

‘Give it one month, okay? And I guarantee that you’ll find there’s more to Joe Easter than what the messroom gossips would have you believe.’

Nikki gritted her teeth. This was a disaster, but she was very aware that the Super had been loyal enough to throw her a lifeline, even though a great deal of pressure had been exerted on him. She took a deep breath. It would appear that he wasn’t the only one between that rock and a hard place right now. ‘One month? Is that a calendar month or four weeks? Because if there’s a choice, I’d prefer the four weeks.’

‘Don’t push it, Inspector.’ The superintendent tilted the remaining spirit in the flat bottle backwards and forwards and raised his eyebrows. ‘Are you walking home tonight?’

Nikki pushed her glass forward. Sod the tiny bottles in her fridge. ‘I am now.’