‘The case, it’s a poisoned chalice,’ said Marsh. ‘You’ve heard of what happened to the SIO who worked on it back in the day, DCI Amanda Baker? She was thrown off the case.’

‘I was thrown off three huge cases, then fought my way back to solve them.’

‘She wasn’t like you. Well, she was, she was a brilliant officer, but she wasn’t strong, up here,’ he said tapping his forehead. ‘She was one of the first female DCI’s in the MET and the first to be assigned to such a high profile case with the disappearance of Jessica Collins. She had it really tough from her peers, those high up in the MET and the press. They were so suspicious as to why a woman had landed the job of SIO.’

‘How did she land the job then?’

‘Damage limitation. So many mistakes were made in the first few days after Jessica’s disappearance; the police were facing a lot of questions. Putting a female DCI in place as SIO was a good story to distract from this, to put the police in a good light.’

‘But she had people who believed she could do it?’

‘Yes, and no. She was brilliant, but she couldn’t take the pressure. Top brass were unaware that in the months leading up to her being put on the case, she’d been seeing a therapist. She’d spent several years, as she rose up through the ranks, working on rape cases. Back then it was a given that if you were a female officer you’d be given the rape cases to deal with. Amanda would take evidence at the scene, or shortly afterwards, and she’s support these women through the whole awful process. The only problem was that she didn’t know how to let go, how to separate herself from work. She’d stay in contact with these women for weeks, months, even years afterwards. She saved a lot of women from the abyss. The only problem was that no one was looking out for her. She was about to be signed off sick when she got the call that she was going to be SIO. Eventually she cracked under the pressure.’

‘You know I’m not going to crack under the pressure,’ said Erika quietly. ‘I will crack, however, if I have to spend the next few years on the merry go round of taking drug dealers off the street, only for another one to take his place.’

Marsh nodded. They sat for a moment and drank their tea.

‘Paul, please. This is a seven year old who was abducted off the street. She’s lain at the bottom of that quarry for twenty-six years. Imagine if someone did that to one of your…’

’No! Erika do not bring my girls into this.’

‘Jessica was someone’s daughter… You can make this happen.’

Marsh rubbed his eyes,

‘I can put in a word, but that’s all it will be. I can’t promise anything.’

‘Thank you,’ said Erika, she took a gulp of her tea. ‘But as far as Superintendent Yale is concerned, I was never here, I never spoke to you.’

‘Ok… Aren’t you going to ask me about Marcie?’ he said after a pause.

‘No. I figured if you want to talk about it, you would.’

‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘We’re trying to work things out. We’re on a break.’ Erika raised an eyebrow. ‘Her words, not mine. She wants to ‘go on a break’ whilst she finds out…’ his voice cracked and it tailed off. ‘She met someone else.’

‘She’s the one who cheated?’ asked Erika surprised.

‘Yes. Some bloke she met at one of her art classes. Keir.’

‘Already, he sounds like a twat,’ said Erika. Marsh grinned weakly.

‘He’s twenty-nine. He goes to the gym. He’s like a model.’

‘He sounds like a fad. Marcie loves you. Hang in there.’

‘Did you think it would be me?’ he said suddenly. ‘Did you think I’d be the one to have an affair?’

‘Yes.’

He looked hurt. ‘Come on. You know what I mean. You occupy a position of power, there are plenty of nubile young girls working as support staff, I figured you and Marcie were having, troubles. And power like yours is a great aphrodisiac.’

‘Is it?’ he asked looking at her.

‘Power is, for some women an aphrodisiac. You must know that?’

He nodded. ‘Would you like another cup, or something stronger?’

‘No. I’d best be getting going.’

‘If you want, you can stay,’ he said softly.

‘What? I live just up the road…’

‘I just meant, that’s it’s late and…’

‘No, Paul. I won’t be staying.’

‘You could be more polite!’

‘You have two small children. And just because Marcie has decided that she wants to shop around doesn’t mean you should do the same thing.’

‘What? I didn’t mean it like that! I meant you could sleep on the sofa.’

‘I know how you meant it. This sofa is barely four foot long, and this is a one bedroom flat. Would this be my payment to you for you putting in a good word?’

‘Bloody hell!’ Marsh began to shout. ‘It was a kind offer to a friend…’

‘I’m not stupid, Paul.’

‘You are. You’re bloody stupid! How can someone be so smart at work and so stupid in life!’

Erika got up, grabbed her coat and left his flat. She thundered down the communal stairs, and came out of the front door slamming it behind her. At the car she fumbling in her pocket for the keys, which were caught on a piece of the lining of her pocket.

‘Shit!’ she said yanking at them. ‘Shit, shit, shit!’ They came out of her pocket ripping the lining and she unlocked and got in. She slammed her hand on the wheel and tipped her head back against the head rest.

‘Yes, I am stupid,’ she murmured.

 

 

10

 

 

When Erika arrived at Bromley Station early on Tuesday morning she bumped into Superintendent Yale coming out of the men’s toilet with a copy of The Observer under his arm.

‘Erika, can I have a word?’ he said. She nodded and followed him up to his office. He closed the door and moved round his desk, indicating she should sit.

‘I’ve just had a call from our new Assistant Commissioner,’ he said settling in the chair behind his desk with a creak.

‘Camilla Brace-Cosworthy?’ asked Erika.