‘Yes, sir. I am, but I’m a firm believer in creating the opportunity and not simply sitting back and waiting for one that may never arise.’
‘This is now your third transfer request to the SCU. DCSI Rhimes turned you down. Twice.’
‘Not because he didn’t think I was qualified, because I am, sir. I am more than qualified. It’s just that back then, DCSI Rhimes said that he had more than enough bodies on his team.’
‘So even though every unit in the Met knows that I’m not taking any transfers, you thought it would be wise to come to me personally in the hope that I would change my mind?’
‘With all due respect, sir, the SCU took my case. Graham Ashcroft is only here because of me.’
Pellacia leaned back as he observed Copeland’s face to see if she was aware of the audaciousness of her statement.
‘We took your case because, and you’ll correct me if I’m wrong, you made the call for the SCU to attend because you believed that the Ashcroft case fitted the MO of our series of home invasions,’ said Pellacia.
Copeland’s mouth twisted as she clasped her hands in her lap.
‘Am I wrong?’ Pellacia asked.
‘No, no, you’re not,’ Copeland relinquished. ‘All units are told to assess their cases to see if they would qualify as a serial crime and that’s what I did. I wouldn’t have been doing my job if I’d just ignored the possibility that the Ashcroft case might qualify as an SCU home invasion. I don’t mean to get ahead of myself, but I don’t think that would be a fair reason to knock back my transfer request.’
‘I’m not using that as a reason. I’m simply explaining to you that the Ashcroft case came to my unit because of a decision you made and—’
‘I’m very much aware of that, sir, and I don’t regret that decision, but I know that the Ashcroft case is big,’ Copeland said enthusiastically. ‘Much bigger than I ever anticipated, and I want to be … sorry, sorry, sir. I interrupted you.’
Pellacia bristled. He instinctively knew that Copeland’s next words would have been‘I want to be a part of it’.He knew from experience that it was never a good sign when a detective placed their ego first and case resolution second.
‘Sir, I’m sure that you know how it feels to want to see an investigation through to the end. It’s not about me. It’s about doing what I can to make sure that we stop any more names being added to your whiteboard.’ Copeland changed tack.
Pellacia internally rolled his eyes at this well-rehearsed line. ‘I would question any detective who didn’t want to see a case through to the end,’ he said.
‘Of course you would. I would question it too,’ Copeland replied, the voices of Stanford and Eastwood drifting through the office.
‘I’ve got a small but tight and committed team,’ said Pellacia. ‘We’ve been burnt before by detectives transferring to us and then realising that they can’t cut it after six weeks. In addition to that, my budget won’t stretch to a new team member.’
‘You don’t have to worry about the budget if I join the SCU on secondment,’ Copeland pointed out ‘You won’t be searching under your desk looking for pennies. You’ll be getting me for free. Once the investigation is concluded I’ll go back to Lewisham CID. If you haven’t worked it out already, I’m quite determined, sir. I want this.’
Pellacia looked past Copeland as his ears picked up the voices of Henley and Ramouter. He may be in charge of the SCU, but Henley was the senior investigating officer in charge of the Fox-Carnell murder and the attempted murders of the Ashcrofts, and she was the one who managed the team.
‘It’s not just my decision,’ he said.
‘Detective Inspector Henley,’ Copeland stated understanding Pellacia’s meaning. She stood up with her feet hips’ width apart and clasped her hands behind her back, grounding herself as though preparing herself for an attack.
Pellacia scanned Copeland’s face, attempting to read her but Copeland was pokerfaced.
‘No. The borough commander,’ said Pellacia. He opened hisoffice door. ‘Can I help you?’ he said sarcastically to Stanford who hadn’t been quick enough to leave his prime eavesdropping position.
‘Not at all, guv,’ said Stanford as he held up his mug. ‘Just passing.’
‘Well, keep passing,’ said Pellacia. He closed the door and turned back to Copeland. ‘I’ll get back to you in a couple of days about your transfer request, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up.’
‘Of course,’ said Copeland as she seemed to momentarily deepen her stance in defiance.
‘And I would appreciate it if you didn’t have any further contact with the Ashcrofts,’ Pellacia added. ‘We don’t need any crossed wires.’
‘That goes without saying, sir,’ she said, her bright tone not matching the darkness in her eyes. ‘Thank you for seeing me. I’ll see myself out.’
Henley tapped her pen against her monitor as she watched Copeland stride out of Pellacia’s office.
‘Why have you got your “I think you’re talking shit” face on?’ asked Stanford as he placed an egg and bacon roll on Henley’s desk. ‘You normally save that for when you’re interviewing a suspect.’
