Nikki’s eyes narrowed. ‘With good reason. He knows his assailant, and he knows he hasn’t finished with him yet.’ She closed the door. ‘I want our best officers on duty here. With no sneaking off for a fag break or spending ten minutes in the bog. This kid need us to give him one hundred per cent.’

Joseph nodded. ‘And he’ll get it. With your permission, I’ll take the first shift, ma’am, and if anyone wants to hurt him, they’ll have to get through me first.’

Nikki agreed. ‘Right. Then I’ll go back and organize a rota, and I must check out any progress being made on Kerry.’ Her face hardened. ‘I don’t want to think like this, but with every hour that passes I fear the worst for that poor kid.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

‘I’M HOLDING OFF the media-fest, but I don’t know how long I can keep Lisa Jane’s death secret.’ The superintendent paced restlessly up and down his office. ‘Have you spoken to Archie?’

Nikki leaned against the wall with her arms folded. ‘I’m going to see him when we’ve finished here.’

‘Where’s your sergeant?’

Nikki grinned. ‘It’s okay. I haven’t bought him a single ticket back to Fenchester. He’s at the hospital with Mickey.’ She chewed on her lip. ‘I think the boy may respond better to Joseph, kind of like a man-to-man thing.’

The Super stopped pacing. ‘Is it my imagination, or are you and Sergeant Easter …’ he stopped, almost scared to voice the words, ‘… getting on?’

‘I’m saying nothing, sir, but I do concede there is more to the man than the messroom gossips would ever dream of.’

Raising his eyes upwards, the Super said, ‘So, there is a God! Hallelujah!’

‘Whoa! Don’t count your chickens, sir. There’s still plenty of time for him to right royally piss me off.’ Her smile faded. ‘The thing is, time’s running out for Kerry Anderson, and frankly, we both know the gravity of that. I’d make the effort to work alongside Vlad the Impaler if it meant we found that missing girl.’

‘I know, Nikki, and I won’t hold you up. Keep me posted on all levels, okay?’

‘Yes, sir. Oh, and we need a Victim Support Officer allocated for Mickey. He’s terrified, and I want exactly the right person to get the best out of him.’

‘Okay. Let me know when you’ve assessed him, and I’ll sort that out.’

Nikki thanked him, then went to the CID room to find Cat. What she found when she got there was an empty room and a memo telling her that Kris Brown was in the foyer waiting for her.

‘Wonders will never cease!’ she muttered to herself, and ran down the stairs.