The detective seemed completely unphased by her question. ‘No, ma’am. I don’t. But I know a little of your record, like your Queen’s Commendation for Bravery? You are driven and passionate, and your methods may not be the same as mine, but we want exactly the same outcome. We want the bad guys off the streets, and put away for as long as possible.’ He paused. ‘I know you take a lot of flack because of the way you work. Well, I take it because of the way I am.’

Nikki leant forward, her elbows on the desk and her chin resting in her hands. She saw no deception in those curiously dark eyes.

‘So, are you prepared to work with someone who, in order to catch a villain, risks her job almost every time she steps outside the station?’

‘In this job, we all have to take risks.’

‘And would you be prepared to back her up? Even if she lied, cheated and threatened in order to get an arrest?’

‘Although I would never compromise my own ethical beliefs, I’m sure everything depends on one’s interpretation of the particular situation, doesn’t it, ma’am?’ There was a hint of mischief in the voice. ‘As long as I saw some kind of justice there, I would want to support my senior officer to the hilt.’

‘But would you respect her?’

Joseph dropped his gaze for a moment. ‘Respect can only be earned.’

‘Mm.’

‘May I ask one favour?’

Had she been any other woman on the station, or maybe even one or two of the blokes, she would have found herself melting. ‘You can ask.’

‘If I endeavour not to moralize over your actions, or draw your attention to the rule book too often, would you be kind enough never to bring religion up in conversation?’

Nikki kept the feeling of enormous relief out of her tone, and said, ‘The conversations that we will be having, Sergeant, will be entirely professional. I’m not here to make friends or indulge in chit-chat, so rest assured, it’ll be my pleasure. Now, can we start work?’

Joseph nodded. ‘That’s what I’m here for, ma’am.’

Fifteen minutes later, Joseph and his new boss, entered the CID room.

‘Okay, this is the team. Such as it is.’ DI Galena indicated to the two other occupants of the room. ‘Sadly, you will discover that you have come to work with the most dysfunctional bunch in the whole of the Fenland Constabulary. This is PC Dave Harris.’ She pointed to a large, middle-aged man with thinning hair and a shirt that looked as if it had never met up with an iron in all its life. Dave raised a hand to Joseph and nodded vigorously, as if he was completely agreeing with the ‘dysfunctional’ comment.