‘Thank you, Mark. I appreciate your support.’

Archer’s thoughts turn back to Quinn’s comment about Pierce planning to sort this case out. She glances at Hicks, who is watching her from across the office. Archer and Hicks are the only DIs available, for now. Archer suspects she knows what Pierce’s intentions will be.

‘Will you excuse me for a moment?’ she says.

‘Sure,’ replies Quinn.

Archer walks back to the hallway and makes a call.

The phone rings and is picked up. Archer’s ex-colleague, NCA analyst Klara Clark’s husky Yorkshire lilt answers, ‘Klara Clark. How can I help you?’

‘Klara, it’s Grace.’

‘Hey, Grace. How’s the new job?’

‘Five minutes in and I have three corpses.’

‘I’ve been watching it unfold online. Are you taking over the case?’

‘I am. For now, at least.’

‘That’s great.’

‘Listen, Klara. Could you do me a favour and use your magic to find out what you can about this street artist that calls himself Anonymous? He spells it with the “@” sign. Absolutely. Anything you want me to tackle first?’

‘Those cabinets were delivered first thing this morning. See if you can get the name of the delivery company. Let me know as soon as you find out anything, would you?’

‘Will do.’

‘Is Charlie there?’

‘Yes, he’s in his office.’

‘I’d like to talk to him.’

‘Putting you through.’

‘Thanks, Klara.’

The phone beeps and after a moment Archer hears Charlie Bates clearing his throat.

‘Please tell me you don’t want to come back already?’

‘No chance. Guv, I need a favour.’

‘Oh.’

‘I need you to pull some strings.’ Archer brings him up to speed on what has happened so far. ‘I’m in Charing Cross now. I suspect DCI Pierce might want to sideline me from the investigation for the time being. That cannot happen. The only other DI here is Hicks. I know a little about him from the last case involving Rees. He lacks the smarts for this case, boss.’

Quinn appears in the hallway.

‘Tea or coffee?’ he mouths.

‘Excuse me one second, boss,’ Archer says. She shields the mic on her phone. ‘Tea, thanks.’

‘Milk and sugar?’

‘Just milk.’

Quinn nods and disappears up the hallway and into the kitchen.

Bates continues, ‘OK. Understood. I’ll see what I can do. By the way, I don’t need to remind you that Clare Pierce plummeted from grace after the arrest of DI Rees. You will need to tread carefully.’

‘I will. Thanks, Charlie.’

‘Good luck and keep me up to date.’

‘Will do.’

Archer joins Quinn in the kitchen as he pours milk into two mugs of hot tea.

‘DCI Pierce has set up an incident room. I thought we’d head there now and brief the team.’

Quinn passes Archer a mug of dark, muddy-looking liquid.

She hesitates before taking it.

‘Not strong enough?’ he asks.