Towards the end of the day, she fired Mark a quick text then stepped out of her office and into the main incident room.

‘Dex, have you got a sec?’ she said, beckoning him towards her, trying hard to make sure her tone of voice implied he wasn’t in for another bollocking. She closed the door to give them some privacy in her office. ‘I just wanted to say sorry for the way I acted earlier. I didn’t mean to be so harsh. It’s great that you’re keen, and I really value your work and your… your acquaintanceship.’

‘My acquaintanceship?’

‘Look, I wondered if you and the others were planning on having a drink after work again tonight.’

Dexter’s eyebrows flicked upwards. ‘Well, yeah. We kind of go most nights, to be honest. There’s always at least a couple of us there. I only ever have a half, though, because I’m driving.’

‘Yeah, I’m not trying to set up a drink-drive sting, Dex. I’m asking if I can come along and join you.’

‘Tonight?’

‘I mean, it doesn’t have to be tonight. It can be any night. But I’m free tonight if that works.’ On the plus side, it meant she wouldn’t have to go home and face Mark for an extra couple of hours. She could do with keeping her mind off the argument they’d had earlier.

‘Tonight works,’ Dexter said.

Caroline smiled. ‘Good. Looking forward to it. Thanks.’

An hour or so later, she was sitting at a table in the Wheatsheaf. She’d walked and driven past the pub hundreds of times, but had never set foot in it. It was a traditional town boozer — a selection of ales on handpumps, cider served from the cellar and signs advertising homemade pub food. She leaned over the bar to see which white wines were in the fridge — the thought of red still made her stomach turn — and was eyeing up the Pinot Grigio when Dexter whispered in her ear.

‘If you’re trying to ingratiate yourself with the locals, try a drop of that,’ he said, pointing to one of the real ale pumps. Tiger, from Everard’s Brewery.

‘That’s from Leicester,’ she said.

‘Yeah. When I said locals, I meant me.’

‘You’re a dick, Dex. I’ll have a pint.’

‘Blimey, in at the deep end. Don’t you want to try a bit first?’

‘What, and if I hate it you’ll not be offended in the slightest?’

‘No, I’d never speak to you again.’

‘Tempting as that is, I need the alcohol. Pint please.’