‘I don’t know what time I’ll finish work tomorrow, but I expect it will be late. I was thinking of going shopping in the West End on Saturday if you want to join me,’ she said, knowing she had to buy a newsboy cap.

Pam hesitated for a moment. ‘That sounds like a plan. I’ll ask Mum if she can look after Nathan and let you know what she says.’

‘Tell her and Dad I’ll come for tea after we’ve been shopping – that way she won’t say no to you.’

‘OK . . . Now tell me about the robbery.’

‘You’ll just have to wait until Saturday, Pam. I’ll see you then.’

Jane put the phone down before Pam could argue.

Jane’s meal had gone cold and slightly soggy while she was on the phone, so she threw what was left in the bin and poured herself another glass of wine. Although it had been a tiring day, she knew tomorrow Murphy would be on her back, wanting to know if she’d typed her reports and submitted them. Not wanting to give him a reason to find fault, she got her typewriter from her bedroom cupboard and took it into the kitchen.

But before getting down to work, she couldn’t help replaying the conversation with Pam in her mind. On the surface, her sister had been breezy and cheerful, cracking jokes about The Sweeney and trying to make Jane laugh. But Jane knew Pam’s bubbliness was sometimes a mask, hiding deeper anxieties. What could she be concerned about? Jane wondered if it was something to do with their parents. They were getting to that age when serious illnesses seem to lurk just around the corner, and perhaps Pam had noticed something worrying. Was that what she’d wanted to talk to Jane about? Jane sighed, feeling she had quite enough on her plate, and tried to put it out of her mind. She took a sip of wine and started typing from the notes she’d made in her pocket notebook during the day.

After a couple of hours, she felt too tired to continue and decided to leave typing the last of her notes until she got to work. She ran a bath and had a long, relaxing soak, then went to bed, where she read over her report of the day’s events. She felt she’d done well, but despite Kingston’s praise, she knew she had a long way to go before everyone accepted her as part of the team – especially Katie Powell. Katie’s attitude had really got her back up, but she now realised it might be down to the fact she was having an affair with Kingston. It made sense to try and keep the peace with Katie, and even to be sociable with her, up to a point.