‘It’s not up to me, Boony. DCS Barnes will decide if a squad should be formed and who will be on it.’

‘When will you be speaking with him?’ Boon asked.

‘I already have. He wants to wait until the full post-mortem is completed and speak with the coroner before making a decision.’

‘From the injuries detected on the X-rays it’s pretty clear we’re talking murder here,’ Pullen remarked.

‘If DCS Barnes does form a squad, I think me and DC Boon should be on it,’ Jane said.

‘I don’t have a problem with that,’ Stanley said. ‘But Barnes might.’

‘Have I done something to upset him?’ Boon asked with a worried frown.

‘Not to my knowledge.’ Stanley took Jane to one side. ‘Tony Barnes wasn’t very complimentary when I mentioned your name.’

‘I’ve never even met the man,’ Jane responded. ‘Hang on, is Barnes another DCI Murphy sympathiser.’

‘No. He said he’d been told you weren’t a good team player and liked to do things your own way, that’s all.’

‘You know that’s not true. I’ve always shared any leads or information I get with my colleagues.’

‘Be honest, Jane, sometimes you keep things to yourself.’

‘Only until I get further evidence to corroborate my suspicions, which, as you know, is because my male counterparts often doubt my abilities.’

Lloyd, who was eavesdropping on the conversation, joined them. ‘Barnes and Murphy used to work together on the Flying Squad, but it was a good few years before you were on it. Barnes was the DI then and Murphy a DS.’

‘Thick as thieves, were they?’ Jane asked pointedly, looking at Stanley.

‘I think you’re jumping to conclusions Jane,’ Stanley said curtly.

‘No, I’m not! Murphy knew I was good detective. He had me kicked off the Flying Squad because I was a threat to him. And now his pal Barnes wants to stop me investigating murders.’

‘To be fair, Jane, I’ve never heard any mention of Barnes being corrupt,’ Lloyd said.

‘Nor me,’ Stanley added. ‘If he were, then Countryman would have been after him as well. As for Murphy, all the evidence at his trial indicated he became a bent copper when he was a DI – which was a few years after he worked with Tony Barnes.’

‘Maybe Barnes lured Murphy into a world of corruption,’ Jane said bluntly.

‘You’re becoming paranoid, Jane,’ Stanley said firmly. ‘Me and Lloyd worked with Murphy . . . does that make us corrupt?’

Jane could feel herself getting angrier. ‘You know that’s not what I meant.’

‘Well, it’s what you’re inferring.’

Jane turned away. ‘This is ridiculous . . . I need to get some fresh air.’

‘You feeling sick as well?’ Boon asked.

‘Only with the way I’m being treated!’

Stanley sighed. ‘If it makes you feel any better, I’ll insist you continue to be involved in the investigation, whatever Barnes says.’

Jane let out a heavy sigh. ‘It would have been nice if you’d done that when you first spoke to him.’