‘Yes – and that’s a problem. And the fingerprint analysis from the knife is contradictory.’ Robin goes to say something but Baker stops him. ‘Even without that, Rob, there’s a whole load of evidence that says he did it. Look, here.’ He pulls the file out from underneath another on his desk. ‘Read it. And you’ll see it doesn’t look good.’

He holds it out; Robin takes it.

‘I’ll give you one more day, Robin. Then you’ll either be off on compassionate leave, supporting the family, or I expect you back at work. You can take over this freezer death from Smith, because he’s getting bloody nowhere.’

‘Thanks, guv,’ Robin says, and leaves.

The door closes. Around Robin, the police station is busy with its usual bustle. He envies the coppers, with their enthusiasm and purpose. He looks at the file in his hand. It’s bulky, which is always a bad sign.

He sighs. Baker’s right, Craig’s right – even Josie’s right. He needs to leave it alone. But first, he thinks, I’ll make sure. And he heads home to have a read.

44

Josh does a double-take when she walks into the incident room, then blushes in a way that Freya finds pleasing.

Mina throws her hands in the air and exclaims, ‘Thank god you’re back. I can’t deal with Captain America by myself any longer.’

Freya laughs and sinks down into the chair next to them. ‘Been having fun then?’

‘She’s exaggerating,’ Josh protests. ‘I’m not that bad.’

Mina gives him the side-eye. ‘It’s a good job he’s pretty.’ Josh blushes again. ‘So how was your trip?’ she asks.

‘Fine.’ Freya changes the subject. ‘Do you want coffee?’

Mina holds her mug out eagerly and Freya makes her way to the kitchen. She notices Josh trailing behind, then glances back as they both go inside.

‘Listen, Freya,’ he begins, hesitantly. ‘I’m sorry about that text. I shouldn’t have asked you out. It was a spontaneous thing, and I sent it and then you didn’t reply and then I realised how bloody inappropriate it was.’ Freya lets him talk, and he gabbles on, staring at his empty mug. ‘I’m your sergeant—’

‘Temporarily,’ Freya interrupts.

‘Yeah, but still. I shouldn’t have put you in that position. I realise now you wanted to say no and you didn’t know how, and…’ He trails off, then manages to meet her eyes for a second.

Freya smiles. ‘It was fine. It wasn’t that at all.’

‘It wasn’t?’

‘No.’ Freya takes his mug out of his hand and washes it with the other two in the sink. She’s playing for time, debating whether to tell him. She can feel Josh’s eyes on the back of her neck.

‘I’d like to go out with you—’ she starts.

‘You would?’