‘It must be something big if he’s brought Dabs in as well,’ Teflon remarked.
‘Has Murphy had a reliable tip-off about the Leytonstone robbery?’ Baxter asked her.
‘Could be.’ She shrugged. ‘He’s in his office making some calls. I guess we’ll find out when he’s finished. Where’s Kingston?’
‘In the ladies’ loo spewing up.’ The Colonel grinned, but Jane didn’t rise to the bait.
Teflon flicked the kettle on. ‘I think we’d better get some coffee down us in case we have to go out nicking people tonight.’
‘Make Kingston’s strong and black,’ Stanley told him.
A pale-looking Kingston staggered in, then put a hand to his mouth, turned around sharply and headed back to the toilet.
Stanley sighed. ‘He’s never been able to hold his drink. I’ll go and see how he is.’
‘If he’s made a mess in the ladies’, make sure you clean it up,’ Jane said.
‘You want a hot drink, Jane?’ Teflon asked.
‘No thanks.’
She pulled her finished report out of the typewriter.
Baxter looked up as Stanley walked back in. ‘How is he?’
‘He’s still drunk, but much better than he was in the pub — said he reckoned some scampi he ate was off.’
Baxter shook his head. ‘Yeah, right.’
When Kingston came back he’d washed his face and combed his hair. He looked a bit better. Teflon handed him a coffee and he walked a little unsteadily to the photocopier, spilling some of his coffee along the way.
‘About earlier... I’m really sorry and I can assure you it won’t happen again,’ Kingston said, making an effort not to slur his words.
‘I hope not,’ she replied without looking at him.
‘Can we put it behind us and move on?’
‘I already have.’
He looked surprised. ‘Really?’
‘I don’t bear grudges.’
‘Thanks, I appreciate it. What are you copying?’
‘My report about the Wilson sisters and the men in the cafe.’
‘You going to show it to Murphy?’
‘Yes.’
‘I really think you should wait until Monday, Jane, especially if he’s called us in because he’s got some good suspects in the frame.’
‘He has.’
She picked up the copies of her report and took them to Murphy’s office.
‘What’s she up to?’ the Colonel asked Kingston.
‘I don’t know, but I think Murphy might be about to lay into her.’
‘Good, I hope he does it in here so we can all enjoy the moment.’ The Colonel smirked.
A few minutes later Murphy came out of his office with Jane at his heels.
‘Right, gather round and listen up.’
The room went silent with anticipation.
‘Before I brief you on the plan of action, I want you all to read WDS Tennison’s report.’
He nodded to Jane and she handed them out.
‘Is Katie coming in?’ Baxter asked.
Murphy shook his head. ‘Unfortunately, she fell over when she got home and cut her lip on a sideboard so she’s not feeling too good.’
‘Sounds like a lame excuse for I can’t be bothered,’ Baxter muttered.
Kingston noticed that Katie’s desk was uncharacteristically disheveled, but it was the bloodstained tissues in the bin beside the desk that really made him wonder what had happened while they were all in the pub. As Jane handed out her report, the rest of the team exchanged bemused glances.
‘Stop gawping and get reading!’ Murphy barked. He looked at Kingston. ‘A quick word in my office, please.’
As Kingston followed Murphy out, the Colonel dropped Jane’s report on the table and flicked the kettle on. Jane went over and stood beside him.
‘Are you not going to read my report?’
He didn’t look at her. ‘What for? Murphy’s just toying with you — he won’t act on anything you’ve told him.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Do you really think he’d call everyone in at such short notice if he was playing games? It’s up to you whether or not you read it, but you might look stupid if you don’t know what he’s talking about.’
Murphy closed his office door then sat behind his desk.
‘You look like shit.’
Kingston sighed. ‘I feel like it, but I’ll survive—’
‘Hair of the dog?’ Murphy offered, opening his desk drawer.
‘No thanks. What’s Tennison’s report about?’
Murphy closed the drawer. ‘Don’t play the fool with me, Stewart. It’s obvious she’s already briefed you on it — even though she said she hasn’t.’
‘I haven’t read her report—’
‘That’s because she’s only just typed it up — but she inadvertently let slip she’d spoken to you about it.’
‘How?’
‘Some of her deductions, and the further enquiries she wanted to make, were too shrewd for someone who’s only been on the squad for two days — and only you and Katie were in the office when I left.’
‘I never meant to go behind your back. I just wanted her to try and get more evidence over the weekend, then speak to you.’
‘That’s fair enough. She’s done a good job as it is, and given us something positive to work on — which is more than the rest of the team so far.’
‘What’s made you change your mind about her?’
‘I haven’t. I still don’t want any women on the squad, but right now I need her as the go-between with the Wilson women. If their information turns up trumps, and we identify the blaggers with enough evidence to charge them, it’s a good result.’
Kingston suspected Murphy meant a good result for himself and not the team.
‘Did Tennison find out you told Katie to keep an eye on her?’
Murphy nodded.
Kingston looked surprised. ‘Katie grassed you up?’
‘She didn’t have a lot of choice after Tennison punched her in the mouth.’
‘Bloody hell. Tennison beat her up to get the truth out of her?’
‘Not exactly — Katie lost her rag with Tennison and went for her and she just defended herself.’
Kingston now realized where the bloodstained tissues had come from.
‘What made Katie go for her?’
Murphy shrugged. ‘I don’t know, neither of them would tell me. But I’ve got a feeling it might have had something to do with your... inclinations towards Tennison.’
‘I can assure you there’s nothing going on with Tennison. She’s made it quite clear she doesn’t mix business and pleasure—’
Murphy sighed. ‘You need to learn to keep your dick in your trousers, Stewart. Now might also be a good time to break it off with Katie, before you get your fingers burnt — or something else cut off. You’d be a fool to ruin your career and your marriage for the likes of her or Tennison.’
‘Will you be getting rid of Katie?’ Kingston asked hopefully.
‘No, she’s good at her job and I don’t have the time to go looking for a replacement. Right, let’s get on with the meeting,’ he said, standing up.
Kingston reckoned that Jane must have confronted Murphy about Katie spying on her, and that’s why he was now playing nice — to stop any formal complaint or internal investigation. But it was clear he was only using her. As soon as they’d nabbed the men responsible for the Securicor van robbery, he’d find a way to get rid of her.
Murphy looked around the office.
‘Anyone not finished reading Sergeant Tennison’s informative and detailed report?’ he asked as he entered the room with Kingston.
‘Do you think Murphy fell over and banged his head?’ Cam whispered to the Colonel.
‘Either that or he wants to shag her.’
‘Might be worth having twenty quid on him as well.’ Cam smiled.
‘Something you two want to share with the rest of us?’ Murphy asked with a dark look.