‘Is that what you’re going to say to the media? I’m not sure that’s going to answer all the questions that are being raised about your general grip on things, Kathleen. I admit that your arrest and conviction rates have risen, but at the same time crime of all kinds is on the up – especially drug-dealing and people-trafficking and phone fraud.’

‘I’m saying nothing to the media,’ Katie told him. ‘If I did, I would have to tell them what a struggle it is to keep on top of investigating crime in Cork when I’ve suffered so many reductions in my budget. Every day I have to make choices about how many detectives I can assign to criminal counter-intelligence, and which forensic tests we can afford – or not afford, in many cases. You’re expecting instant results, sir, but you know full well that I’ve had to cut back drastically on overtime, and for instance a rapid DNA test can easily cost two hundred euros more than the regular test.’

‘Come here, Kathleen, I’ve been fighting tooth and nail against the cuts in your finance,’ said Brendan. ‘But it’s not all about money. Our professional competence as police officers is being openly criticized here, and I don’t like to say it but your personal reputation is being called into question, too. You need to give the media some response.’

‘My response to the media will be my results,’ Katie retorted. ‘I’ll have some comments to make as soon as we have some positive forensic evidence, or make some arrests. Up until then, it’s no comment.’

‘Brendan – you’ll have to think of some titbit to throw to the press,’ said Frank Magorian. ‘We can’t possibly tell them that we have nothing to say. Not after yesterday’s shambles.’

Brendan looked at Katie in a way she had never seen him look at her before. It was a chilled, calculating stare, as if he were thinking You thought you had me cornered, did you – you wait until you see what I can do to you.

‘Are you positive you want to stick with “no comment”?’ he asked her. ‘I mean, can I quote you?’

‘Do whatever you judge to be best, sir,’ said Katie. ‘You’re the chief super, after all.’

Frank Magorian pulled out a handkerchief and blew his nose loudly. Then he said, ‘You know that the media are likely to ask if it was wise of us to promote a female officer to detective superintendent, don’t you, Kathleen? I’ll be pure surprised if they don’t ask us whether we put political correctness before professional judgement. And how do you think we can answer that?’

*

She found Bill Phinner in her office, talking to Moirin.

‘I was just coming down to the lab to see you, Bill.’