The three emails from DS Andrews contained a detailed list of everything that had been completed so far. It was extensive, a good example of how quickly you can progress fast-track actions when you have a team of detectives to call upon. Joel knew he couldn’t rely on CID to continue their support – DS Andrews’ last email made it very clear that this was him handing over. Joel would need to raise the issue of recruitment again. Although it might make sense to secure some office space to put them in first. Joel had missed a call from Superintendent Marsden earlier that morning that he was still to return. Maybe now was the time he could get some timescales. He took his phone out. The missed calls from Marsden had now increased to three.

‘Joel, you do know the whole idea of a phone is to make you contactable.’ The irritation in her voice was enough to stop Joel reminding her that it was a Saturday and he wasn’t technically due back at work until Monday. This didn’t seem like the time for technicalities.

‘Is there something you need?’ he said instead.

‘Where are you?’

‘Nackington. I thought I would set up at the closest place until you get me—’

‘You need to go up to Sittingbourne. There’s been a shooting.’

‘A shooting?’ Joel said. ‘Linked to my headless man in Dover?’

‘No. I’ve seen the same handover you have about Marcus Olsen. CID have done you proud. That’s now a slow-time investigation for you to come back to. There was a shooting overnight. This is what your team was meant for, Joel …’

‘What team?’

‘You have a sergeant.’

‘I do?’ Joel said. ‘The last I heard I didn’t even have an applicant.’

‘Someone called me this morning to ask for the job personally.’

‘Someone, who?’

‘Lucy Rose. She’s a DS in CID on the West. She’s worked Child Protection, has a lot of experience.’

‘And she called you this morning, just like that, just as another job is coming in?’

‘Fine, she called me because of this job, Joel. She knows the victim.’

‘What?’ Joel couldn’t stop a groan. ‘Then she definitely can’t be part of the investigation team. Of course she can’t.’

‘It’s not like that. A lot of people are going to know her. The victim is Hannah Ribbons. She’s a source handler.’

‘A source handler …’ Joel couldn’t help but exhale in surprise.

‘Only for a couple of weeks. She was a detective before that. Joel, I need you to get up there. Someone’s killed a police officer.’

Chapter 18