‘Indeed, Sherlock. Spin is to be expected, obviously. If Her Majesty’s press can infiltrate and expose a grooming and trafficking ring, why can’t Her Majesty’s police force?’ He vamps on the spot as he talks. ‘I’d just never have expected a headline on Andromeda, of all cans of worms. And even an ego the size of mine can see a fractional possibility there’s something else in it … And if it turns out I’ve missed it…’

He pauses as a cab screeches up next to us, gushing water over the kerb. We step back as Jemima steps out, phone still cocked between her head and ear.

‘…I understand,’ she says into the phone, rolling her eyes at Dominic and nodding at me. ‘I’ll call you back shortly, OK? I’ve just met up with them.’

‘Well?’ Dominic stares at her as she smooths down the braids wound tight and immaculate against her head.

‘Well, she knows you’re upset. And she gets that none of us want to put the trafficking story on the shelf for long … It’s not as if she routinely sidelines scoops either. But she doesn’t see why Thomas chasing a valid lead, especially on a national story like Andromeda, should be such a big deal—’

‘Did she say what he’s got?’ I interrupt before Dominic can.

Jemima frowns at me as she unfolds an umbrella over her head. ‘She wouldn’t go there, so it must be good. I tried “but we’re the senior investigative team” and no dice. She says she’ll have a word about Thomas not giving us a courtesy heads-up that he was working something but gave me the whole “I didn’t expect this from you, Jemima”.’

‘But what about our trafficking story?’ I can’t help myself, the third shadow trembling back into my head.

‘She’s as disappointed as we are—’

‘Bollocks is she.’ Dominic cuts her off. ‘All she cares about, and all she’s ever cared about, is owning the next headline. Why else would she let a chancer like Thomas out of the gate without so much as a by your leave? She’s never given a toss about real investigations.’87

‘That’s not true and you know it.’ Jemima squares up to him. ‘Don’t lose it with us just because you haven’t had the guts to lose it with her. This isn’t all about you and your grudge.’

I jump as Dominic flings his cup on the pavement.

‘If she thinks I’m working with toe-rag, in any way, shape or form—’

‘It won’t come to that. We’ll get to his source before he even knows what he’s got—’