‘Welcome to the party, Treacle!’ the Colonel shouted, raising his beer can.

Jane looked around the room. The whole squad was there, smiling and raising their cans.

‘You bastard, Teflon – you had me worried sick!’

‘I knew it would get you here quickly.’ He grinned.

‘We always have a piss-up after a good result and thought you needed cheering up,’ Stanley said.

Murphy tapped his beer can on the table to get everyone’s attention.

‘I want to thank you all for your hard work over the last few days – especially you, Jane. We wouldn’t have been able to charge the Ripley gang if it hadn’t been for your tenacity and attention to detail. Welcome to the Flying Squad.’

He raised his glass, then everyone clapped and cheered loudly and toasted her. Teflon opened a can of lager and handed it to Jane.

‘Murphy’s recommending the Colonel and me for the Queen’s Police Medal for bravery,’ he said.

‘You deserve it – I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. Cheers!’

She tapped her can of beer against his.

‘I was wondering if you’d fancy going out for a drink or to the pictures some time?’

‘Yeah, I’d like that, but just on a friendly basis.’

‘I’m fine with that,’ Teflon agreed.

‘We got you a little present, Treacle.’

The Colonel handed her a large rolled-up poster with a red ribbon tied around it.

Jane unrolled it and everyone laughed. It was a blow-up of the Ripley family and friends photograph taken at the wedding, with her smiling and surrounded by the gang of criminals. Above it was the heading: A ROSE AMONG THIEVES. The Colonel took it from her and pinned it to the wall next to the Dirty Dozen poster.

Dabs approached her. ‘I had the pictures you took developed and thought you might like to have this one.’

It was the picture of a happy-looking Carl with his arm around Jane, taken by a guest at the wedding with Jane’s camera. She felt herself welling up.

‘Thank you, Dabs.’

Jane gently touched the photograph of Carl and put it in her bag. For the moment, she was enjoying the thrill of finally being accepted as one of the Flying Squad. But she knew that once the elation had worn off, she’d have to ask herself whether it really was the right job for her. She’d seen some things that she’d never be able to forget, however hard she tried.

‘You’ve certainly changed your tune about Tennison,’ Kingston said.

Murphy shrugged, taking out a bottle of Scotch and pouring two large glasses.