‘No, but I don’t think the morning dispatch has arrived here yet. Your report may still be in transit.’

‘I didn’t put it in dispatch – I delivered it by hand last night and was told you were out on enquiries.’

‘Who did you give it to?’

‘I spoke to a lady on the intercom who said she was the office clerk. She came down to the front entrance and I handed it to her. She asked what it was about, and I told her my examination of the burnt-out Cortina and ignition barrel.’

‘That would be Katie. It may be on her desk. What was the result with the barrel?’

‘I took it to bits and did a microscopic examination. There’s no evidence I can find that suggests to me a screwdriver or similar implement was forced into the barrel to start the car.’

‘Looks like the owner of the car may be hiding something then,’ she remarked.

‘Certainly does. My report contains everything I did at Edgar House yesterday. If you need a written statement just let me know and I’ll get it typed up here then forward both copies to you.’

‘Thanks. Can I ask what time you dropped the report off?’

‘About six. Is there a problem?’

‘No, not at all. Thanks for everything you’ve done, it’s really useful and I know our DCI will be pleased.’

‘It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope you catch the villains.’

Jane put the phone down and looked in her in tray and desk drawers, but there was no sign of the report. She then looked on Katie’s desk, but it wasn’t there either. She contemplated looking in Katie’s desk drawers but didn’t want to look as if she was snooping. Looking out of the window she could see Katie walking across the road, carrying Murphy’s food in a brown bag, so she went out onto the landing and waited for her.

‘Have you got a report that was dropped off for me by a Traffic Division officer last night?’ Jane asked as Katie appeared.

‘I put it on DCI Murphy’s desk,’ she said casually, brushing past Jane.

Jane followed her. ‘But it was addressed to me.’

‘I know, but when the traffic officer said what it was about, and you weren’t here, I thought DCI Murphy should see it in case he wanted to action further enquiries right away.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me about it when I got back to the station last night?’

Katie turned, shrugged her shoulders and looked at Jane nonchalantly.

‘I forgot. Now if you don’t mind I need to take this to DCI Murphy,’ she said, holding up the bag.

‘Did he send anyone round to the Cortina owner’s house?’

‘I don’t know, I didn’t ask him,’ she said, entering Murphy’s office.