‘Yeah, I can do that,’ Ezra replied. ‘Anyone in particular or just see what turns up?’
‘Look for Nathan Hall first.’
Ezra left the room, and Henley took a deep breath, finally feeling as though she was getting control of the case.
‘I’m going to talk to the victims of Fox-Carnell who survived. DC Copeland, I want you to familiarise yourself with the serial crimes investigation manual,’ said Henley.
‘Wouldn’t it be more useful to investigate Nathan Hall,’ asked Copeland, flipping the page of her notebook. ‘I can check for any instances of recorded harassment against him and look into the backgrounds of his complainants.’
‘No,’ said Henley. ‘This is your day one. An SCU investigation doesn’t work in the same way as your usual major crime.’
‘I didn’t expect it to, but I have worked on a murder investigation before.’
‘Oh god. She’s going to get a lesson,’ Eastwood muttered. She opened her desk drawer and pulled out a bag of Maltesers.
‘DC Copeland, a homicide is investigated by a major investigation team that usually includes at least four Detective Sergeants and eighteen Detective Constables.’ Henley bit her lip to stop herself from adding that she was sure that Copeland was on the lowest rung of the ladder. Instead, she said, ‘We’re a smaller, specialised unit and you don’t work until you understand how we work. Is that understood?’
‘Yes, guv,’ Copeland replied, her Welsh accent prominent.
‘Once you’ve completed that task, I want you to go through the Fox-Carnell and Ashcroft CRIS reports, witness and forensic statements so far. And you …’ Henley said, turning to Pellacia. She stared at him, the anger visible in her eyes.
‘You forgot to say guv,’ Pellacia said icily.
‘I need to talk to you. Outside. In the yard,guv,’ Henley said.
‘That really is no way to talk to me, especially in front of the rest of the team,’ said Pellacia.
‘I don’t appreciate being left in the dark,’ said Henley. She pulled the hairband off her right wrist and tied back her hair. Despite the blue sky interrupting the sequence of clouds, she could smell rain in the air.
‘How have I left you in the dark?’ Pellacia asked.
‘DC bloody Copeland. You just sprung her on us. You’ve never done that before when you’ve brought someone new into the team. You didn’t do that with Ramouter. You consulted all of us and you didn’t do that with DC Kemble who was here for all of five minutes. Why didn’t you call me last night?’
‘Because I try my best not to disturb your home life unless it’s serious and two, when I think about it, not everything I do, as your boss, needs your inputDetective Inspector Henley.’
Stunned, Henley took a short step back. She wasn’t used to Pellacia calling her by her full title when it wasn’t official business, in front of their superiors or discussing a case in a news conference.
‘We shouldn’t have found out the way we did,’ said Henley. ‘And Copeland of all people.’
‘That was Barker’s decision not mine. Copeland isn’t costing us any money and she’s invested in the case.’
‘Please,’ Henley muttered as Pellacia paced the yard ‘She’s not interested in this bloody case. She’s interested in Ramouter.’
‘Don’t you think you’re seeing something that isn’t there?’
‘No, I do not. Her behaviour. Putting herself in places where she has no right to be. I’ve seen what she’s like with him. Her interest isn’t just this case. Trust me on this one.’
‘I do. Trust you, that is.’
‘Do you really Stephen? Because honestly it doesn’t feel like it. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going with you.’
‘It works both ways Anj.’
Henley closed her eyes, turned her back and walked towardsthe railings. She could sense that Pellacia was hurt, and she hated the fact that she was the cause of it. She held her breath and she listened to his steps as he moved closer to her. The last thing she wanted was for him to touch her.
‘I would have liked to have been given a bit of notice before Copeland walked through the door,’ she said, turning around and finding herself far too close to Pellacia. She stepped back. ‘I’m leading this investigation, and I can’t do my job properly if things are being hidden from me.’
‘What else am I hiding from you?’
