It’s clear that Josh is trying hard, saying the right things and asking the right questions, but he’s missing the air of competence that Butler exudes. With Robin, Freya’s always sure they’re on the right track. And they have one of the best case-closure records in the Major Crimes team, a fact she’s proud of.

But Josh? Well, he’s certainly nicer to look at, she thinks, watching him joke with Mina. But in terms of finding out how the cold, dead body of this man ended up in a freezer, in a deserted lay-by? He’s got a long way to go yet.

5

Sophie screams in frustration as she attempts to get past the policeman, who body-blocks her again. She’d managed to sprint past the man at the bottom of the car park, ducking up the back stairs to get to the top, but now she can see the van, the bastards won’t let her through.

The first thing she had done this morning was phone Finn. And when he hadn’t answered, she’d known something was wrong. That night she’d slept badly, the storm howling outside her flat, her dreams uncharacteristically dark. She’d been looking for Finn, frantically calling out his name, and when she woke, she knew. The unconscious is a powerful tool; she’s learnt to listen to what her brain is telling her.

She’d seen the news reports. Vague, speculative accounts of Dr Sharp’s death. So she headed straight to the car park, where she knew Finn had been spending the night. But now they won’t let her get to him. She sees heads turn, then a man walks towards them. He holds up his hand and the policeman backs off.

Sophie’s lip curls. Robin, Finn’s best mate.

But Robin being there has stopped her in her tracks. Not because she is cowed by him, but because his presence only confirms her worst fears – something has happened to Finn.

‘Nice to see you, Sophie,’ Robin says, even though she knows from the look on his face that it is anything but. The feeling is mutual.

‘What’s happened? What’s going on? Is Finn okay?’

Robin glances back to the van, then to the woman approaching extending her hand. Her expression is dark and serious; she stands up straight with an air of authority. Clearly the person in charge.

‘DI Jo Craig,’ she says. Sophie shakes her hand. Her grip is light but reassuring. ‘There’s a problem involving Finn. He’s refusing to come out of the van. What can you tell us about last night?’

‘He’s what?’ Sophie stutters. ‘Well, let me get over there. He’ll come out if I talk to him. He’s probably just tired and confused. He gets like that when he hasn’t had enough sleep.’

‘It’s more complicated than that, Sophie,’ Robin says quietly.