‘I’ll get it myself then,’ he frowned, putting his hands on the desk to support his weight as he tried to get up.

‘Sit down,’ Jane said. ‘I’m only joking.’ She picked up her purse. ‘Seeing as you’re so poorly, I’ll even buy it for you.’

*

On her way back from the canteen, Jane bumped into Stanley on the stairs.

‘Morning, Stanley. Nice weekend?’

‘Yeah, not bad. Yourself?’

She thought it best not to tell him about her date with Nick or her visit to Thomas Durham’s house. ‘Pretty boring really. Spent most of it looking through the planning documents. I also had an interesting conversation with Jack the mortuary technician.’

Stanley shook his head in disbelief. ‘Do you ever actually get out and have some fun on your days off?’

‘Yes, of course I do,’ she said defensively. ‘But there’s a lot to do on this investigation, and only me and Boon working on it at the moment.’

‘You know what your problem is?’ he said.

Jane sighed. ‘Enlighten me.’

‘You’re becoming job-pissed,’ he said, turning to walk off.

‘Don’t you want to hear what Jack told me?’ she called after him.

He kept walking. ‘Give me five minutes to get a sandwich and coffee, then we’ll talk in the office.’

*

Back in the office Jane spoke quietly with Boon. ‘There’s something that doesn’t sit right with me about Thomas Durham and Lee Holland. I’m convinced they’re hiding something from us, but I’m not sure what it is – especially now the original development of the land seems above board.’

He nodded. ‘I thought the same, but it looks like we were wrong. Are you going to tell Stanley what you think?’

Jane shook her head. ‘It’s just a gut feeling with no evidence to support it. I’ll leave it for now. But keep digging.’

When Stanley came back from the canteen Jane told him about the planning document revealing the land had been deconsecrated and asked if he would ask DCS Barnes if the building work could resume.

‘What time is the meeting with DCS Barnes?’ Boon asked, looking out of the window at the station yard.

‘Ten,’ Jane and Stanley replied in unison.

‘Looks like he got the time wrong, then,’ Boon said.

Jane and Stanley leaned over and saw a grim-faced Barnes stomping across the yard.

‘He doesn’t look very happy,’ Jane said.

Stanley stood up and addressed the office, which was now half full. ‘DCS Barnes is on his way up, so stick the food under your desks and look busy.’ He marched off to his own office.

Jane looked nervously towards the door. Barnes walked in holding a newspaper. Everyone stood up, acknowledging his rank.

Barnes pointed his finger at Jane and Boon. ‘You two . . . Stanley’s office . . . Now!’