For the first time Marshall’s face softened into something approaching a smile. ‘Well, maybe that’s something I can help you with. Anything to get you off your arses.’ He reached inside his suit jacket and pulled out his mobile. ‘Neil Fuller – he was the Kinsella woman’s assistant. As far as I could make out he seemed reasonably sane for one of your lot. This is his number.’

Clare plugged his details into her own phone.

Marshall turned as if to go, then hesitated for a moment. ‘And remember what I said. I expect to see progress here. A nice quiet site, no press and no police. You lot give me any trouble and I can easy enough find another unit who will do what’s needed.’

David slathered his poppadom in lime pickle and smiled. ‘This was a good idea, Sal.’

‘Well, neither of us has time to cook. And we’ve both got to eat. This place is only ten minutes’ drive from the station, and I figured a quick Indian before I need to get back to work was the only way we were going to get to see one another.’

David’s disappointment was obvious. ‘Really, have you got to go back in tonight?’

Sally gave him a look. ‘Don’t start. You know that with Morgan still off I’m stretched.’

David knew only too well what Sally’s boss being off meant. DCI Morgan had been off sick for the last two months. And he’d barely seen her since. David felt for the bloke; he was only in his early fifties and he’d had a heart attack. Opinion seemed to be that it was the stress of the job that had triggered it. And that was what worried him. Sal might be young and considerably fitter than Morgan, but if she had to carry on doing her job and his for much longer she was going to end up in the same boat as her boss.

‘You can’t keep doing two jobs, Sal. How much longer is this going to go on for?’

She scowled at him. ‘For as long as it takes.’

‘You’re going to make yourself ill at this rate. You’ve got to say something. Can’t you speak to someone about it?’

Sally laid her spoon down and stared at him. ‘Really? That might be the way it works with your lot, but it’s not in my world. Do you really want me to commit career suicide?’

‘You know that’s not what I meant.’ He leant towards her, placing his hand on hers. ‘It’s just that I can see how tired you look.’ As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them. Sally glared at him. She withdrew her hand and took a sip of her lassi. ‘Well, if you can’t ask anyone, is there any word on whether Morgan’s coming back or not?’