She’d kept her head down during police training and worked through each challenge as it arose. Now, more than ever, Sarah knew she had done the right thing. She would make it as a detective, if she was given half a chance. She would start by finding the Midnight Man. She already had her suspicions, but she could not say them aloud. Not until she had proof. If her suspicions were proved right, the identity of the killer was a bombshell which would cause tremors far and wide. She returned her attention to Bernard as he came off the phone.

‘How are you doing?’ he said, in his usual jovial tone. Her gaze fell to the paracetamol packet, and the empty coffee cups. He looked tired, and she could see the pressures of the investigation were taking their toll.

‘All ship-shape,’ Sarah pre-empted his usual question about her mental health. She didn’t want to be here, wasting his precious time when Jahmelia still hadn’t been found.

‘I hear you’ve been going solo, making visits to our number one suspect.’

Sarah’s eyebrows shot up. Was he talking about Christian? His comment came as a surprise. Bernard interlocked his fingers and rested them on the desk. ‘There’s nothing wrong with you wanting to paddle your own canoe, but it’s early days for you. Don’t take on too much.’

Sarah looked at him quizzically. ‘I’m not with you. Everything’s fine as far as I’m concerned.’

But her DI gave her a look which suggested otherwise. ‘One of your colleagues has expressed concerns.’ The clock on the wall ticked loudly as Sarah absorbed his words.

‘Yvonne.’ A tight smile rose to her face.

Bernard didn’t deny it.

‘She’s a bully, you know that, don’t you?’

Bernard’s chair creaked as he leaned forward, his voice deep and mellow. ‘If you’re raising a complaint of workplace bullying, I’ll have to take this further.’

Sarah shook her head. ‘It was an observation, not a complaint.’ She hadn’t come here to talk about Yvonne.

‘We had a long chat about you,’ Bernard continued. ‘I furnished her with details of your background.’ He raised a hand as Sarah took a breath to complain. ‘It’s all out in the open now. It’s for the best. I wanted a united front all round.’

Sarah swallowed down the bile rising up her throat. So everyone knew who she was.

‘Yvonne is a fine detective. I’d rather you work with her than against. Keep your feet on the ground, that’s all I’m asking. And don’t be afraid to ask for help.’ He looked at Sarah thoughtfully. ‘Isn’t it time you thought about getting rid of Blackhall Manor anyway? It’s nothing but a millstone around your neck.’