Clare stepped neatly round the back of her desk before Tony could assume ownership of her chair. ‘Please,’ she said, indicating the other chair. ‘Sit.’

He seemed faintly amused but pulled the chair out and sat down. ‘So,’ he said, ‘here we are again.’

Clare sighed. ‘I take it you’re our DCI?’

‘I have that honour.’

‘Then let’s get one thing clear, Tony.’

‘Go on.’

‘You are not to wind Chris up. Got it?’

He smiled. ‘Nah, you’re okay, Clare. To be honest, the lovely Sara’s not my type. But purple-head out there…’

‘Who’s getting on for twenty years your junior.’

‘It worked for Charles and Di.’

‘Actually, Tony, I don’t think it did. Maybe we should talk about our murdered man.’

‘It’s what I’m here for. So, what you got?’

Clare relayed the events of the past few days. ‘One of the women from the minibus is due in at nine fifteen,’ she said, checking her watch.

‘What about the other women?’

‘At the moment I can’t identify them. The minibus driver was booked by message on a burner phone, wad of cash put through the door in payment, the women were picked up and dropped back in town and, from what I can gather, they didn’t know each other.’

‘Doesn’t sound like they’ve been trafficked, then.’

Clare shook her head. ‘No, I agree.’

‘What about the three men – anything there?’

‘I’m not sure. One does have previous for firearms offences.’

‘He has to be in the frame.’

‘I dunno. Hell of a risk, with the others in the house.’

‘You think it’s an outside job, then?’

Clare explained about the CCTV footage. ‘The security guard was away for a quickie with one of the girls. The cameras only cover the gap in the fencing. And with the guard out of the way, our sniper could have climbed over the fence further round, out of sight of the cameras.’

‘Then lay low till morning,’ Tony said.

Clare checked her watch again. ‘Look, Tony, the minibus woman will be here any minute.’

‘Want me to sit in?’

‘I don’t think so. She’s quite nervous and I want to build up her trust. See if I can get her to relax. If I take a DCI in she might clam up.’

He nodded. ‘Suits me. I’ll just hang out here for a couple of hours. Use your desk.’

Clare rose. ‘Thought you might.’ She left him to her office and sought out Chris.

‘I can’t believe they’ve sent him again,’ he said.

Clare steered him over to the side of the room and indicated two chairs. ‘Look, Chris,’ she said as they sat down, ‘what happened between you and Tony…’

‘You mean when he slept with my girlfriend, and I burst his nose?’

‘Yeah, that. It’s old news. You’re with Sara now and, well, he’ll basically always be Tony.’