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Chapters (70)
  1. Cover
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  3. Map of Rutland
  4. Map of Oakham
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. On Borrowed Time
  69. Acknowledgments
  70. Adam Croft

‘You’ve got a week off — more if you need it and the doctors tell you to. Just so you know, you’ll be invited to a meeting with me when you get back. And yes, I will be giving you a proper dressing down. Got to be like that on paper, anyway.’

‘And what about not on paper?’

‘Well, you’re not losing your job if that’s what you’re asking. I think it’ll probably be an official warning, but again, that’s on paper. Between you and me, yes, I think it was a bloody stupid idea to do what you did, but I can see why you did it.’

‘Honestly, we wouldn’t have caught him otherwise. I genuinely believe that.’

‘I know. I’m sure it’ll all come out in the wash. But that’s not to say changes don’t need to be made. I think you and I both know this hasn’t been handled in the best way. Product of the system, perhaps. But systems are there to be changed and improved.’

Caroline felt a surge of dread in the pit of her stomach.

‘You’re not suggesting all major crimes go through EMSOU, are you?’

‘No. No, of course not. At least, that’s not my intention. There are others who might disagree with that, though. That’s why you’re probably going to have to explain your actions to a panel and undergo some sort of extra training.’

She dearly wanted to remind him that she’d been a senior investigating officer in the Met and had more experience dealing with major crimes than every officer in Rutland combined, but it didn’t seem worth the hassle. She was happy to have kept hold of her job. For her, that was the main thing.

‘We’ll probably have to work a little more closely, you and I,’ Arnold said. ‘We definitely don’t need a loose cannon knocking about. Not with people leaning down our necks from up above, not to mention EMSOU. I know you do a good job. I know Smallwood would have died an innocent man if you hadn’t done what you did. But we’ve still got to make sure things are done properly. By the book, if you like.’

‘On paper, at least?’

Arnold smiled. ‘Yes. On paper, at least.’

63

Once Derek Arnold had gone, Caroline and Mark sat back down.

‘Would you like a drink?’ Mark asked.

‘God, yes please.’

‘I imagine you’ll want something a bit stronger tonight.’

‘Definitely.’

‘Actually, I think there’s a bottle of gin in the kitchen. I’ll go and grab that.’

‘Oh. No. Maybe not that. On second thoughts, let’s just stick to wine.’