For one weird moment, she actually believed him. Why didn’t she feel that he was taking the piss? Surely he had to be? Jesus, she hated it when she felt confused about people. She needed to take back control, then she’d feel more comfortable. ‘Four weeks, actually, Sergeant. And although I hate to break up the party, I think the pleasantries can wait. We have some enquiries to make about a missing young woman.’

‘And I think a quick guided tour of the station should come first, Nikki. After all, Joseph is a stranger here.’ The Super threw her a warning glance.

‘No, no. That’s okay, sir.’ Joseph shook his head. ‘DI Galena is quite right. I can find my way around as we go along. No problem at all.’

The superintendent stepped back and raised his hands in surrender. ‘Then over to you two. And keep me informed on everything. Good Luck.’

Nikki wondered which one of them would need it.

‘Take that empty desk by the window, Sergeant. My office is over there.’ She pointed to the corridor. ‘The coffee machine is on the landing by the lifts. The karzy is at the end of the hall and the canteen is in the basement. Guided tour over. Now, I like my coffee black, strong and no sugar, sort that out, then meet me in my office in two minutes.’

As she closed her door behind her, she leant on it for one moment, and blew out a long whistling breath. Joseph Easter was nothing like she had imagined!

In two minutes, he was tapping on her door, then placing a beaker of coffee on the coaster on her desk.

‘Sit down. There are one or two things we need to get perfectly clear before we start.’ She fixed him with one of her best, unblinking stares. ‘I never asked for this. I like to work alone. I am not easy to work with. In fact, according to most of this bloody station, I’m damn near impossible, and I deeply suspect your motives for coming here.’

Joseph returned her stare. ‘Fair enough. But you know that my old inspector, Val Hughes, was forced to retire?’

‘Yes. She was injured working the Castor Fen murders.’ Nikki wondered where this was going.

‘We had a very good working relationship, ma’am. But I’m afraid I did not gel too well with the officer who took her place.’ He shrugged. ‘I wanted a change, ma’am. A clean break. Something completely different.’

Nikki looked at him steadily. ‘Do you see me as a challenge, Sergeant?’