‘Thanks for your concern, but I’m fine with a bit of banter. Besides, I didn’t expect to be welcomed with open arms by everyone.’

‘From what I’ve seen so far you’ll soon settle in; you’re a thinker and a grafter – and that’s what counts most.’

He picked up the typewriter and said he’d use one of the empty desks next to Teflon to complete the lab form. The way Dabs treated her with respect made Jane feel even worse about the way she’d snapped at him, and now she could feel a real headache coming on. As she took out her pocket notebook and pen she noticed a blue folder in one of her filing trays. She supposed Katie must have put it there. She looked inside and saw that it contained the completed house-to-house forms, none of which had been signed or marked up for further, or no further, action. She assumed Cam would have been checking and supervising the forms as he’d told her DI Kingston wanted him to organise the house-to-house enquiries. Jane glanced up and saw Cam watching her out of the corner of his eye, then say something to the Colonel, which made him grin. She walked over to his desk and put the folder down in front of him.

‘I thought you were dealing with the house-to-house forms.’

‘I spoke to DI Kingston and he wants you, as a DS, to check them and raise any further action if it’s needed,’ he said with a self-satisfied smile.

She wondered if he was lying because he was too lazy to check them himself.

‘Then why didn’t Kingston tell me personally?’

Cam shrugged. ‘Probably because you were with DCI Murphy when I spoke to him. I expect he’ll want to go over the results of the house-to-house during the meeting.’

‘Right, we can get the meeting started now WDS Tennison has honoured us with her presence.’ Murphy’s voice boomed out as he strode into the squad room, followed by DI Kingston.

Cam had a smug look as he spoke to Jane. ‘Don’t panic, I’ve looked through the forms and there’s nothing that needs an urgent follow-up and I’ve told Kingston about the owner of garage twenty-nine.’

‘Can someone grab the flip chart and felt pens?’ Murphy asked.

Seeing she was nearest, Jane went to get it but, as she picked up the two pens, Katie suddenly snatched them out of her hand.

‘DCI Murphy likes me to write the salient points on the flip chart at office meetings since I’m the only one with legible handwriting.’

Jane was taken aback by her petulance.

‘I was only going to carry it over, not write—’

‘That’s kind of you,’ Katie said, scampering off to position herself next to Murphy.

‘Stupid bloody woman!’ Jane muttered, shaking her head in disbelief.

Murphy coughed to clear his throat.