‘Yes. This is getting bigger all the time. Major Crime have agreed to assist. The DCI will be heading to Dover nick for an RV and a full briefing. He’ll have troops in tow, they’ll want to hit the ground running.’

‘Major Crime? To lead the search, you mean?’ That was a Major Crime function – a missing person with suspected foul play. But there was something in Marsden’s tone.

‘The search is under control. The sergeant down there is very experienced. The DCI is for more of a general overview.’

‘General overview? That sounds more like a handover than a briefing?’

‘It does, doesn’t it … Is that such a bad thing, Joel? For your first job this is hardly fair now, is it? We have another scene at the hospital – a child no less. And now a twelve-year-old boy missing … I think we need to be seen to be doing what we can.’

‘I am doing what I can.’

‘I know that. The organisation, Joel, we need to be seen to be doing what we can. And that means a Major Crime DCI who might have led the way on something like this before. You’ll still be key, he’ll need to know everything you do and you’ll be by his side going forward, but …’

‘But you don’t know that. And my lack of experience was okay all the while the victim was some piece of shit signing on the sex offenders’ register. Now it’s someone we care about I’m not good enough?’

The superintendent huffed. ‘Come on, Joel, I know you want to find the boy as much as anyone does. And whoever is leading this trail of destruction too. No one’s saying you’re not doing a great job …’

‘Then let me carry on doing it.’

‘You are. Just with some help. Get yourself back to Dover Police Station and be ready to hand over. The DCI is coming from Chatham but he’s already on his way. He may call ahead. You need to be ready, Joel, you need to show him what we’ve been doing down there. Get this done, then we can regroup, get you a team and a decent place to work from, and we’re better prepared when the next job comes in. This is my fault, this was my mistake.’

‘I was?’

‘Don’t be so precious. You know what I mean.’ The tone change was instant. ‘I’m getting another call. It will be about all this. You know what to do.’

When Joel dropped the phone, DS Rose looked expectant. Joel broke away from her to walk over to the window.