‘We just can’t give him anything, you know? We have to nail this prick, for Angela’s sake,’ Imogen said.

She knew that Adrian meant what he was saying at the time he said it, but all of that could go out of the window the moment they saw Corrigan with his wife.

Imogen felt the burden of having Adrian with her – in this particular case, he wasn’t so much a partner to her as another variable she had to make sure didn’t go to shit. Maybe Matt Walsh was right when he said she was ready for more responsibility. Maybe she was letting Adrian hold her back. She felt disloyal even thinking it.

‘I should tell you that Walsh knows about us,’ Imogen said.

‘You told him?’

‘No. He asked me about it on the way back from Shropshire. I couldn‘t lie when he asked me directly.’

‘Is he going tell the DCI?’

‘He says not.’

‘Do you believe him?’ Adrian asked.

‘Well, he hasn’t said anything so far. Plus, he reckons she already knows. He said it’s kind of obvious.’

‘What does he think we should do?’

‘Nothing, by the sounds of it. If we tell the DCI, then she has to act on it. He thinks that’s why she is ignoring it.’

‘So why did he mention it?’

‘Because …’ Imogen paused and took a deep breath. ‘Maybe it’s messing up our ability to do our jobs properly.’

‘He means me, though, doesn’t he? Not you. Not perfect Imogen.’

‘That’s not fair,’ Imogen said, hurt by his words. Where did that come from?

‘Maybe that’s what he wants. He wants you to either drop me as a partner or as a boyfriend so that he can swoop in and save the day; be your shoulder to cry on under the guise of protecting your career.’

‘Are you taking the piss right now? What are you talking about?’

Imogen was taken aback. It was unlike him to be jealous. She might be angry with him if she didn’t suddenly remember the fact that she had checked the call history on his phone without his permission.

‘Sounds to me like Matt wants to spend some quality time with you.’

‘So, he can’t just think I am a good police officer? He must fancy me because I don’t hold any value in any other capacity, is that what you’re saying?’

‘I didn’t say that.’

‘For what it’s worth, he made a good argument for why we shouldn’t work together anymore. For a start, we’d be talking about the case right now instead of our own bullshit.’

‘I’ll follow your lead, Imogen. Whatever you think is best.’

‘So, it’s all on me? Wonderful.’