‘Rat poison and bleach are also readily available, Hunter.’

‘But not as conveniently tasteless, Sir.’

‘No. But the fact remains, most people want to have a car that starts in the morning, and a clean bathroom. They don’t want to kill others.’ Norton smiled. ‘When you’ve left your soapbox, pray, do continue, Hunter.’

‘Sorry, Sir. I know we see the tiny percentage of misuse and I have to keep it in perspective. Sometimes it’s hard, that’s all.’

‘What’s interesting, Hunter, is that you aren’t hard. Yet. An empathetic, experienced officer is the best we can ever hope to offer the public. Make sure you keep it that way.’

Jazz realised she’d been given a back-handed compliment. ‘Yes, Sir, I’ll try.’

‘Good. So, to continue . . .’ Norton looked askance at her. ‘I worry Mrs Smith sounds completely barking. Is she deemed mentally fit to stand trial?’

‘Issy has been with her quite a lot, and says Smith is perfectly sane for someone insane, as she put it. She’s shown no remorse whatsoever. She believes that justice has been done to avenge the death of her son. It won’t be a long trial, that’s for sure. Broadmoor’s on the cards, I should think, Sir.’

‘Well . . .’ Norton closed the file on the desk in front of him. ‘You got there eventually, Hunter. Congratulations. And before the press conference, too. I don’t like to think of the consequences if you’d announced we’d arrested David Millar, only to discover later we were wrong.’

There was a moment’s unspoken acknowledgement of who had almost caused such chaos.

‘Now, leaving the case aside, I want to know how you are feeling about the future.’

‘I haven’t had a lot of time to think, Sir,’ Jazz replied honestly.

‘The thing is’ – Norton picked up an envelope from his desk – ‘this is your letter of resignation. And I suggest that if you do wish to resign again, you put a little more thought and effort into its composition. I presume you’re still determined not to come back to London?’

‘Yes, Sir.’

Norton raised his hands in resignation. ‘Well, I won’t try and persuade you again, if your mind is made up. But whatever anyone may tell you, the Yard is where it happens, and where you, as a detective, get noticed in terms of future promotion.’

‘I understand, Sir. But I’m not obsessed with career progression particularly, just in doing a good job. And being happy,’ Jazz added.

Norton raised an eyebrow. ‘And you think you’re “happy” in Norfolk?’

‘What little time I’ve had there, yes, I believe I am,’ agreed Jazz.

‘I’ll make no bones about the fact I want you back here. However, if you are not staying with us, the commissioner would like to see you as soon as possible.’

‘Really? Why?’ Jazz asked nervously.

‘To discuss how you could help him in his plans for setting up a Special Ops department in East Anglia. It’ll cover Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Cambridge and Lincolnshire,’ Norton explained. ‘To put it bluntly, the commissioner is sick of having his team here deployed all over the country. Especially as London becomes more and more in need of our services. There are three other regional departments currently being set up, which should cover the entire country, without the need to filch from us.’