Clare had no idea how she managed to drive to the station. She knew if she’d called Chris to ask for a lift he’d have told her to stay in bed. She could bet the DCI would have warned him about letting her come into work. She nosed into her parking space, not trusting herself to reverse the car, and climbed out. There was a bit of a breeze, cool against her cheeks, and she wondered if she was running a temperature. Pulling her jacket close around her she walked across and in the door. The front office was quiet, Zoe’s head bent over her typing and Sara at the desk. Clare gave her a wave and pushed open the incident room door.

Tony was sitting on a desk near the front, holding court. He turned to see who had come in and he stared at Clare. ‘God help us, it’s Typhoid Mary,’ he said, putting his hand up to his face in mock horror. ‘What the hell do you look like?’

Clare sneezed loudly and felt in her pocket for a tissue.

Chris came across the room towards her. ‘Clare, for God’s sake.’

Sara opened the door and put her head in.

‘Look, everyone,’ Clare said, ‘I’ve a bit of a cold but…’

‘Bit of a cold?’ Chris said. ‘It’s more than that, Clare. Looks like flu to me.’

She waved this away. ‘Something’s come up.’ She nodded to the door. ‘I’m going to my office. I’ll explain there.’

Tony and Chris followed her and she sank down behind her desk. The room felt cold again and she bent to adjust the radiator, feeling her head swim. She sat back up, clutching the desk for support and waited for the dizziness to pass. Then she said, ‘I had to come in.’

‘Why?’ Tony said. ‘You’re not that indispensable, Clare. Trust me!’

Sara opened the door and put a steaming mug down in front of her. ‘Lemsip,’ she said. ‘It’ll help.’

Clare smiled at Sara and pulled the mug towards her. The steam rose, hot and lemony, but her stomach lurched as though it didn’t agree. All the same, she was glad of the warmth from the mug and clutched her hands round it, making an effort to gather her thoughts. ‘Luke,’ she said. ‘Luke Gasparini… he phoned me a little while ago. He’s on his way in to make a statement.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘We’ve half an hour to prepare.’

Clare’s head felt a bit clearer after the Lemsip. She regarded Tony and Chris. ‘You two managed not to fall out?’

‘Well he’s not punched me yet,’ Tony said, and Chris had the grace to blush.

‘It’s a start,’ Clare said. ‘So, before Luke gets here, fill me in on what’s been happening. Did you get Mark Mooney’s DNA?’