Caroline sighed. ‘It’s a murder investigation, Dex. There’s nothing gentle about it.’

Caroline had been looking forward to assembling the team for a briefing and update, but she’d barely been in the office thirty seconds when there was a knock at the door.

With such a small police force, it wasn’t uncommon to see Chief Superintendent Derek Arnold roaming the corridors, but an unannounced visit was never usually good news.

‘Caroline, do you have a moment?’ he asked, gesturing for her to follow him. She said nothing, but headed after him in the direction of his office.

Unlike most larger police forces, who tended to have a number of superior officers at each level, Rutland Police’s set-up was far more basic — ‘streamlined’, as the police press office liked to call it. Due to Rutland’s size, the Chief Superintendent was also the de facto Assistant and Deputy Chief Constable. Although his pay grade didn’t back that up, it was almost certain he’d be next in line to take the role of Chief Constable, as and when Jane Condry decided she’d had enough and wanted to vacate the top job.

Derek Arnold’s office was no plusher than the other rooms in the oversized scout hut Rutland Police called home, but being called in to see a superior officer always gave their space an additional aura.

‘I just wanted to call you in to let you know I’ve received a complaint,’ Arnold said, getting straight to the point.

‘A complaint?’

‘Yes. From the Reverend Peter Tottman. I understand you went to see him this morning.’

‘We did, yes. In connection with Operation Forelock. We have reason to believe there might be a religious connection.’

‘I’m sure it’s a distinct possibility. But that isn’t the issue here. The complaint was with regards to your conduct and manner of questioning. The Reverend felt you’d been rude, disrespectful and brash.’

Caroline swallowed hard. ‘I’m not sure I’d use any of those words to describe it, if I’m honest. I thought I was direct, polite and fair.’

‘He disagrees. In a place like Rutland, forging and maintaining strong links with the local community is vital. It’s a small place, Caroline. We can’t afford to go pissing people off.’

‘I understand that. But, with respect, this is a murder investigation. Hard questions need to be asked. I’ve got to say, I really didn’t expect him to immediately jump on the phone to you to complain about me asking questions. Are you friends?’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

Caroline decided to try a different angle. ‘Is this an official verbal warning?’

‘Not this time, no.’

‘So it wasn’t an official complaint done through the official routes? Just a quick word in your ear?’

Arnold leaned forward on his desk, his arms crossed.