‘The council employees will face internal disciplinary proceedings. Meanwhile you will appreciate that the South Australia police service cannot be seen to accept favours? Did you pay these men?’

I’ll buy the Bagshaw twins a couple of beers one day, Hirsch thought, for laying asphalt worth about two bucks. ‘No, sir.’

Gaddis turned jocular. ‘So not a variation on the bitumen bandits who like to fleece the unwary, constable?’

Hirsch gave a hollow chuckle. ‘No, sir.’

But he knew all about bitumen bandits. His parents had been scammed by a man who knocked on their door one day, saying he had a load of bitumen left over from a large road-repair contract and rather than take it to landfill, a terrible waste of good tar, would they like their driveway paved at a greatly reduced rate? They said yes, in their generous way, paid a deposit, and never saw the man again.

Gaddis tried for kindly uncle. ‘Hardly a sackable offence, of course, Constable Hirschhausen, but perhaps you might be a little more careful next time. It comes down to image, and it comes down to perception.’

‘Sir,’ said Hirsch.

Rosie twinkled at him. ‘Did they do a good job?’

‘A great job,’ Hirsch said. ‘Every time I parked in the driveway, the potholes would put my spine out of whack.’

Gaddis said coolly, ‘Moving along…’

While a part of Hirsch tensed for some fresh hell, another part raced through the asphalt back story. Someone in town had witnessed the pothole patching and informed the council office. The town and district councillor was Martin Gwynne. Martin saw and knew everything.

‘The matter of your paperwork, Constable Hirschhausen.’

‘Sir?’

‘A number of important memos, in need of your immediate attention, remain unattended to. Would you care to speak to this matter?’

I would not, thought Hirsch. But his mind alighted on the ‘information cascade’ memo. Should have followed it up. He might have, if the damn thing had been written in plain English.

‘What with long daily patrols and two major crimes in my district, I’ve had to let some things slide a little, sir. But I will clear my in-tray in the next few days.’

‘Again, hardly a sackable offence, Constable Hirschhausen, but once a pattern of negligence is established, it can be difficult to shake.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Learn to make time in the day to attend to your paperwork. Now, failure to charge two teenage boys with the theft of a motor vehicle.’

Hirsch swallowed. ‘A judgment call, sir. One boy’s the carer, with his sister, of their mother, who has mental health issues. The other boy’s mother is in hospital and his father’s in jail. I felt a formal apology to the vehicle’s owner was the best course of action.’

He paused, told a partial truth: ‘Both boys were suitably chastened and apologetic.’