Been a long time since she’d had to deal with anything serious. Well, not that long – the Harpers had always prevented Barsall being too sleepily bucolic a beat – but in the past they’d gone quietly whenever they’d needed taking in. Not like today.

The rules of engagement have changed. The phrase began to circle round her head, along with Liz’s words. They’ll come for you tonight. All of you. Police didn’t worry the Harpers, but something else did. Enough to make Tony Harper freeze to death in the snow in sight of his own front door.

Ellie yawned. She felt exhausted, and would have liked nothing more than to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head. But that wasn’t an option, especially not now. Instead she went into the kitchen and made another coffee with ridiculous amounts of sugar. Some days you just needed to treat yourself and sod the consequences.

As she pottered back through into the front room, there was a knock on the door. Bollocks. No peace for the wicked, a police(wo)man’s lot was not a happy one, and any other quotes and clichés that suited the occasion. She went and answered the door. “Mill.”

“Ell.” A moment of silence. Snow settled on Milly’s shoulders and in her hair. “Can I come in or do I freeze my tits off out here?”

“Sorry. Come in. Please.” Ellie shut the door behind her friend. “Brew?”

“Please.” Milly followed Ellie into the kitchen. “You okay?”

“More or less. Still a bit wobbly. Just feel knackered.”

“Yeah, you will. I would say take it easy, but that’s not sounding like an option, is it?”

“Too fucking right. How are the patients?”

Milly sat down at the kitchen table, rubbing her eyes. “They’re okay. Jones is keeping an eye on them. Lord Chapple of Dogdickington turned up to collect the Golden Child, so it’s just the girls left.”

“How’s Charlotte?”

“How do you think? She managed to get her head down, for now.”

“You doping up everybody? If so, slip me a pill, will you?”

“Fuck off. Not given her anything. She just conked out of her own accord. It’s been a rough day. Still no idea what happened to Joda and Barbara?”

“Not a clue. I mean, not really been a minute to investigate properly since this morning. God, the poor kid.”

“Poor both of them, when you think about it.”

“True.” Kathleen Beck was in the same boat as Charlotte, even if Ellie hadn’t known her since she was knee-high. “Whatever it is, the Harpers are a sight more worried about it than the cops.”

“Know more than they’re telling?”

“Don’t they always?”

“True story.” Milly cleared her throat. “Anyway, the Beck girl’s awake. I asked if she was up to talking to you, and she said yes. Thought you’d wanna –”

“Too right.” Ellie got up and went through to the front room. She paused on the way and picked up the shotgun from the bureau.