‘That would be great, but the office meeting will be starting as soon as everyone’s here.’
‘Well, I’ll do what I can before it starts.’
Katie went to her desk, picked up a handwritten statement and gave it to Jane.
Kingston walked in carrying a coffee and a sausage roll and went straight to his office. Katie quickly followed him, then closed the door behind her and stood by his desk with her arms crossed.
‘Where did you go with Tennison last night?’
Kingston put his breakfast down on the desk.
‘I didn’t go anywhere with her — I went to the Crown to get a statement from the landlady.’
He pulled the statement out of the folder and showed it to her.
‘Then why did you leave together?’
‘I told her to go home. She got in her car then drove off in the opposite direction to me. For Christ’s sake, what’s your problem, Katie?’
‘I just thought the way you left last night was rather abrupt, especially as we’d just... you know. It felt as if you were more interested in her.’
He pointed to himself. ‘Me, interested in Tennison? You couldn’t be more wrong — I don’t even find her attractive.’
‘Then why are you being so nice to her?’
‘Being nice doesn’t mean I fancy her—’
‘DCI Murphy doesn’t like her.’
‘Murphy doesn’t like the fact a woman is on the Flying Squad. He sees Tennison as a liability and will do his damnedest to get rid of her.’
‘And will you help him?’
‘Look, I made a few phone calls before she came here. By all accounts she’s not a bad detective, but working on the Flying Squad is a totally different ball game from divisional work and I for one don’t think she’ll be up to it.’
‘Murphy wants me to keep an eye on her and report back to him if she messes up.’
‘Then there’s no need for me to get involved as well.’
‘As her DI you should bring her mistakes to Murphy’s attention.’
‘I know what my job is, Katie, and I’m not going to put myself on the line with Murphy by not doing it — least of all for Tennison. Now can I please finish my sausage roll in peace before the office meeting?’
‘My boyfriend’s out with his mates tonight so you could come around to mine if...’
Kingston frowned. ‘He nearly caught us last time I did that. I ripped my jacket climbing over your garden fence, and my wife started asking me questions about how it happened.’
‘Maybe we should tell our other halves that we’ve met someone else,’ Katie suggested. ‘Then we can openly be together and stop sneaking around — I’m tired of sex in the gym or a car.’
He obviously wasn’t expecting this.
‘We both agreed our relationship was just a fling. Besides, you only just got engaged to Brian. You don’t really want to break it off, do you?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t think Brian and I are right together. He’s not like you — sex with him is like a boring routine.’
This was something new and it was making Kingston anxious. He certainly had no intention of leaving his wife for another woman — least of all Katie.
‘Now’s not a good time to be having this conversation, Katie.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because there’s a lot to discuss, and it needs to be in private, away from the office.’
‘Tonight then, at mine... after work.’
She left before he could answer.
Kingston threw what was left of his sausage roll in the bin, his appetite suddenly gone.
Katie quickly typed up an information sheet concerning the phone call from the Tottenham duty sergeant and took it to Murphy. She told him everyone was in the office ready for the meeting, apart from the officers who were still on surveillance regarding the possible jewelry shop robbery in Chingford. He read the sheet, then wrote ‘WDS Tennison to deal’ under the ‘Further action’ box and signed it before going into the office to start the meeting. Katie got the flip chart to write on and stood next to Murphy and Kingston, marker pen in hand.
‘Anyone get anything positive from their snouts last night?’ Murphy asked loudly to get everyone’s attention, but there was no response.
Grim-faced, he went over to Katie’s desk to look at the office duty book, in which everyone recorded their times on and off duty along with brief details of what they were doing and why.
‘I see you all managed to claim a few hours’ overtime for meeting informants — but not one of you has anything constructive to show for it!’
Stanley stuck his hand up. ‘I was given a couple of names, Guv. I ran a Criminal Records Office check on them this morning — they’re both known blaggers, but they’re in Wormwood Scrubs at present.’
Baxter also spoke up. ‘I had a similar result with a suspect, but he popped his clogs from a drugs OD a month ago—’
Murphy raised his hand for Baxter to stop talking.
‘What bloody use is that to us? I expect you all to get results — not sit in a pub pissing it up with informants giving you a load of bollocks all night!’ He scowled and looked at the Colonel. ‘I authorized twenty quid for you out of the informants’ fund, so what was the result?’
Kingston spoke up. ‘He can’t see his snout until Sunday morning.’
‘I’m reasonably confident he’ll have something for us, Guv — he always proved reliable in the past,’ the Colonel added.
‘Well, you better put the Commissioner’s money where your mouth is. What about the checks on recent armed robberies with the home counties, Katie?’
‘I’ve spoken to Hertfordshire and Kent CID, but they’ve had nothing similar in the last six months. Essex and Surrey have a possible and I’m waiting for them to fax the details over to me.’
‘Why are the carrot cruncher forces always so bloody slow with everything? Let me see it as soon as it arrives. Any update on the forensics, Dabs?’
‘I’ve spoken to the scientist in the gun room. He’s aware of the priorities and said he’ll start on the exhibits as soon as we submit them, which will be after the meeting. I’ve prepared the lab form and just need DS Tennison as exhibits officer to check it before you sign it.’ He held the lab form up.
‘Let me see it.’
Murphy got a pen out, signed the lab form and gave it back to Dabs.
Jane wasn’t sure if he’d signed it without reading it to save time, or just to belittle her in front of the team.
‘While we’re on forensics, I’ve had a result back from the traffic PC who examined the Cortina’s ignition barrel. There’s no sign that a screwdriver was forced into the barrel, which puts the owner’s claim it was stolen in doubt. I’d like the Colonel and Bax to pay Mr. Braun a visit after the meeting. If you think he’s lying or being evasive then nick him.’
Jane wasn’t surprised Murphy hadn’t acknowledged it was her idea to call the traffic officer to examine the Cortina, but it was still galling. She raised her hand, but Murphy ignored her and looked instead at Kingston.
‘Stewart, did you manage to get a statement from the landlady of the pub?’
‘Yes, and the artist’s impression, which is up on the wall.’
He took a duplicate out of a folder, which he handed to Murphy.
‘That’s a good drawing — get some “Appeal for Assistance” posters made up with details of the robbery, then circulate it Met-wide and in the papers. I know it could result in a shedload of dead-end calls, but we might strike lucky. Once it’s circulated Tennison can help Katie man the phones and make CRO enquiries with any names we’re given. Have you made an appointment for Simpson to view albums at the Yard, Stewart?’
‘She’s busy all weekend and can’t get anyone to manage the pub for her until Monday at the earliest.’