‘So, what’s going on with Butler?’ Mina asks, leaning forward from the back seat of the unmarked pool car, as Freya drives the three of them to their new crime scene. ‘I was looking forward to seeing him today.’

‘I forgot you know him from training,’ Freya replies.

Josh pulls a face. ‘You actually want to have a conversation with him?’ he comments.

But Mina smiles. ‘Butler comes across as a grouchy sod, but once you get to know him, he’s a good bloke. Solid, loyal. Trustworthy.’

‘You make him sound like a Labrador,’ Freya laughs.

‘More like one of those big mastiffs. Looks like they’ll take your hand off, but all they want is to be petted.’

Josh scoffs. ‘I’d like to see you pet Robin Butler. So, what’s the gossip?’ he pushes Freya. ‘What’s he up to today?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Freya replies. Robin’s return text was brief: Not coming in, Finn in trouble. Freya hasn’t met Finn but has seen photos – a studious bloke with thick glasses and a perpetually serious expression, much like Robin’s. ‘Something about a problem with a friend of his.’

‘Let me look. If it’s police stuff there might be something online…’ Mina ducks away into the back seat, her eyes on her phone. ‘What’s his mate’s name?’

‘Finn Mason,’ Freya replies.

‘Here it is,’ Mina says. ‘Oh, no.’

‘What?’ Freya asks, and Josh swivels round in the passenger seat to look.

Mina starts reading. ‘Information is unconfirmed, but reports state that Dr Simon Sharp and his colleague Dr Finn Mason have been trapped following the storm last night. Dr Sharp, who rose to fame in the BBC series Storm Chasers, is reported dead under suspicious circumstances.’

‘Shit,’ Josh says. ‘That doesn’t sound good at all.’

They both stare at Freya. Her eyes stay fixed on the road.

‘What are you looking at me for? I don’t know anything.’ Freya shakes her head. ‘And you know what the papers are like. Let’s wait to see what Robin says.’

‘Who is this Simon Sharp guy, anyway?’ Mina asks.

‘You must know, he was on TV constantly over Christmas,’ Josh replies.

‘I’ve seen nothing except Peppa bloody Pig and PAW Patrol for the last year, Josh,’ Mina exclaims. ‘Especially not some nerdy weather guy.’

‘Oh no, he wasn’t nerdy,’ Josh says. ‘More Bear Grylls than Michael Fish.’

Freya pulls up in the car park and turns the engine off, as Josh loads a photo on his phone.