Page 60 of Child's Play

‘It’s a line on a map, sir,’ she said, quoting his own words about the force boundaries. ‘We’re all fighting crime.’

DCI Woodward was one of the most progressive advocates of inter-force working she’d ever met. He felt the lines dividing forces were for budget and organisational purposes only as they were all trying to do the same job. Criminals crossed force borders, so procedures and working practices had to adapt too.

‘You know, sir,’ she continued, ‘I actually thought to myself, what would the boss do in this situation? Would he dismiss the request out of hand without consideration or would he try to co-operate with his colleagues across the operational border and try to foster a more—’

‘He would have consulted with his superior officer for a start, and just so as you know, that smoke you’re blowing is going nowhere near my behind.’

‘I could always call Travis and tell him I made a mistake and get Penn back.’

‘You know damn well I’ll refuse that offer. The damage is done now but I just don’t understand what possessed you to act so recklessly.’

‘It was his case, sir,’ she said, honestly. ‘Penn was the SIO and he needs to know if he f… messed up. And if he did he has to try and put it right, otherwise it’ll stay with him for the rest of his career.’

‘You could have just said that in the first place,’ he said, wryly.

‘And where’s the fun in that, sir?’ she asked, realising he should have known her motives were not based on inter-force co-operation. That was his job not hers and she rarely gave away or lent out anything but she knew how it felt to finish what you’d started.

‘Although that does lead nicely to my reason for wanting to see you. Sir, you have to take the shackles off. Even with Penn we couldn’t work this case nine to five and my team is losing the will to live. Stacey is looking for a part-time job and Bryant is on the brink of divorce. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I’m actually cleaning my house.’

She saw a smile twitch at the corners of his mouth.

‘Okay, Stone, some latitude but don’t work them into the ground.’

‘Thank you,’ she said, reaching the door.

‘But remember, Stone, every action has consequences and you should be ready to deal with yours.’

Kim closed the door behind her. What the hell had he meant by that?

Forty

‘Right, guys, it’s after five o clock,’ Kim said, entering the squad room.

Bryant groaned and Stacey blew a raspberry.

‘But given the fact we’ve lost Penn and we now have two bodies, let’s crack on for a bit, shall we?’

Her two colleagues high-fived each other across the room.

‘Anyone need to make calls?’

‘No,’ Bryant said. ‘My missus prefers me to ring when I’m gonna be early cos that used to be the exception.’

‘No,’ Stacey said, simply, but Kim caught the shadow that crossed her face. She hoped another relationship hadn’t suffered as a consequence of too much time together.

‘However, I am obliged to advise you both that if you start to feel tired or suffer increased levels of stress…’

‘Guv, can we just get back to work?’ Bryant asked.

‘Fine, but just tell me, okay?’

‘Okay,’ Stacey agreed. ‘Now, there’s something I think you should know about Veronica Evans.’

‘Go,’ Kim said, crossing her arms.

‘That Skype call she had with the editor. It was roughly the time she said but it ended at 9.52, which according to Route Planner gave her just enough time to get to Haden Hill Park and away again before her sister’s body was discovered. Not sure what that means in light of the second body but…’

‘Good to know, Stace, well done,’ she said. Regardless of how many bodies there were Kim still wanted to know more about Belinda and her sister.