‘Look … I’m sorry if we don’t seem too interested in this, Luce,’ Tucker said, sitting back at his desk. ‘There’s probably something in what you say. But we can only progress the investigation as fast as we can. And ultimately, if the net result is – what did you call it? – a load of hoodlum-on-hoodlum violence, should that really upset us? Plus, if the Crew get these killers first … well, like Lee says, it’s not the end of everything.’

This was hardly a laudable view for a police officer to take, Lucy thought, but rather to her own surprise, she felt as if she understood it. The bandits who’d hit Andy Northwood’s house had been merciless. They’d gone in with heavy firepower and had happily used it. They needed to be taken off the grid one way or the other. It wasn’t agreeable to think in those terms, but she supposed she shouldn’t be shocked that this was the Robbery Squad’s attitude. Some of their previous run-ins with armed gangs were legendary.

Tucker’s mobile rang. When he checked it, he started hitting keys on his laptop. ‘Sorry, Luce … gotta take this. Thanks for the nudge, though … seriously.’

She nodded and moved away.

There was no question in Lucy’s mind. She had damaged her relationship with Danny Tucker. He’d been polite enough, but he’d also been disingenuous. Lucy was no spring chicken when it came to policework, and she knew she’d just come up with a useful lead. The Crew were a fairly typical gangland organisation; they might be stronger and more influential than most, but they had plenty of weak links. And if they too were hunting for Andy Northwood’s killers, those weak links could easily be pressured into giving up vital info.

Lucy had no doubt that this would now become a new line of enquiry. The big difference was that, a week ago Tucker would have thanked her profusely; he’d have called Kathy Blake and given her the good tidings while Lucy was still standing there, maybe even try to bring her on board. Now, he was making as if he couldn’t care less.

But it was all to the good that she’d learned this about him, she decided.

As she went back downstairs, it was difficult not to feel disappointed. For all her tough talk when her mother dragged the subject up, Lucy was not an unromantic soul. But she couldn’t help wondering if it was a case of her missing an opportunity where Danny Tucker was concerned, or perhaps dodging a bullet.

Chapter 26