‘Of course it is, Sweets. Bring over a bottle of red.’ And she was gone.

Inspector Dolly Veitch smiled and indicated the spare office chair to Stevie. ‘Take a seat, I’ll be with you in a moment,’ she said as she finished filing some documents.

Stevie liked her inspector. Fair and popular with the officers under her, Dolly was the prime reason Sex Crimes was considered such a plum appointment. The ghastly reality of the job was more bearable with a respected boss behind you and the moral support of contented colleagues.

Dolly lowered herself into her desk chair as if she had a sore back, which she didn’t as far as Stevie knew. It was just that everything she did she performed with slow and deliberate care; the fine linen pantsuit she took off at the end of the day was doubtless as clean and crease-free as it was when put on that morning. If she hadn’t been a police officer, Stevie could have imagined Dolly as the editor of a stylish woman’s magazine. Tash often joked that ‘when she grew up’ she wanted to be just like Dolly Veitch.

Putting on a pair of metallic-framed designer specs, Dolly picked up the complaint form in front of her. Stevie’s stomach fluttered as she tried to interpret what was going on behind the unflappable visage.

Dolly finished reading and handed the report to Stevie. ‘Read what Mason said and tell me if this is a fair account of what happened.’

Stevie’s mouth dried when she first started to read, but by the time she’d finished, she was smiling. ‘This is ridiculous, she did not kick him when he was on the ground,’ she said. She might have placed her heel upon his head but she didn’t kick him. ‘And the water pistol was so obviously a fake, he would have known that.’

‘But she was out of order with it.’

‘Yes she was ma’am and I’ve had a firm word with her.’

‘It was a stupid thing to do.’

‘She won’t be doing it again. I don’t think she realised quite how stupid it was; to her it was just a joke.’

Dolly leaned back in her chair and took her glasses off. ‘I can’t really see that there’s anything to worry about, Stevie, or any need to mount an internal investigation. I spoke to the boss of the remand centre earlier this morning and was told that Mason has also lodged complaints against the staff there, ridiculous accusations. They’re all getting a proper going over of course, but lucky for us he’s lost any credibility he might have started out with.’

Stevie sank back in the chair; she could hardly believe they were getting off so lightly

‘It looks like Natasha is off the hook for the time being, but I’m concerned about her attitude...’

Stevie held her breath.

‘She needs to be watched, there are times when that girl plays too close to the edge. It’s hard dealing with friends, I understand that, especially when everything is new and you’re still finding your way. If anything like this happens again, you’re to file a report and send it straight through to me, is that understood? What happened to the water pistol after she threatened Mason with it?’

‘I destroyed it, ma’am.’

‘Good, rest easy then.’ Dolly gave her a reassuring smile.

Monty, you lying bastard, you got me all worked up over nothing. But at least he hadn’t told Dolly that Tash had stolen the water pistol from the armoury. Yet.

‘Is that all ma’am?’ Stevie asked as she rose to her feet.

Dolly motioned her to sit back down. ‘No, I haven’t finished.’

Stevie dropped back into her chair.

‘I had a call from Kate the other day, she’s having a hard time coping with the new baby. I tried to warn her what it would be like, but you know as well as I do that all the advice in the world can’t prepare you for what you’re up for when you first come home from hospital.’

Stevie agreed. When she’d had Izzy, she naively expected life to go on as before, the baby fitting into her world and not the other way around. She hadn’t expected two years of broken nights and exhaustion which, combined with the nightmare of dealing with her ex, sent her only a whisper away from full blown depression. If it hadn’t been for Tash’s support back then she probably would’ve cracked up.

‘So is she extending her maternity leave?’ Stevie asked.

‘She’s resigned.’ Dolly fanned the air with a letter plucked from a pile on her desk. ‘She’s not coming back.’

Stevie paused as the news sank in.

Dolly opened her mouth to speak, but Stevie’s mobile rang, cutting her off. She indicated for Stevie to take the call.

It was Clarissa. ‘Sorry to interrupt, but this is important. I’ve found a photo of Bianca Webster on Kusak’s computer, along with some of her personal details. He bought the photo from the webmaster, Lolita. The photo’s maybe a year or so old, but it’s similar in format to others we found on Mason’s hard drive.’

Stevie thought for a moment. They were dealing with two problems now, both offshoots of the Bianca Webster case: the death of the paedophile and the cracking of the paedophile ring run by Lolita. She mentally reorganised her day, hoping she could slot in another visit to Stella Webster.

‘Have you spoken to Tash?’ Stevie asked.

‘Yes, she was talking to the staff in the Internet cafe when I rang, going through the logs of users at the time the photos were sent. There are a few names that keep popping up. The guy we want is probably using an alias, or more than one, but it’s a start.’

Stevie glanced across the inspector’s organised desk, caught her eye and put up her thumb. After she thanked Clarissa and hung up she said, ‘Looks like we’re getting closer to this Lolita character, ma’am.’

‘Good, keep me informed.’ Dolly clasped her hands and leaned forward, indicating a change of subject. ‘The job vacancy, sergeant in charge of the Cyber Predator Team, was part of the agenda at the senior staff meeting yesterday.’

Stevie wondered if this was the meeting Monty had had with the commissioner, the one he needed clean clothes for.

‘Your name was put forward as Kate’s replacement. It would mean promotion to senior sergeant, of course.’ Dolly smiled and raised elegantly arched eyebrows as she waited for Stevie’s reaction.

Stevie found her words disappearing before she could get them out, she didn’t know what to say. This was totally unexpected—why the hell hadn’t Monty said anything?

God, she must look like a complete moron. She was pleased to be considered up for the job, yet her mind flooded with reasons to turn it down. ‘Thank you ma’am, but there are things I need to think about. Childcare is my first priority; the new job will mean longer hours...’

Her words dried before they could leave her mouth. Dolly didn’t attempt to break the silence, giving Stevie time to organise her staccato thoughts. I’ve not been in the Cyber Predator Team long enough—I don’t understand the complexities of computers—am I up to it?—do I deserve it? What effect will it have on Izzy?

Dolly broke the silence. ‘I know; childcare; same old, same old. But you have a good support group I believe.’

Stevie nodded. Yes, but for how long?

‘How long have I got to think about this, ma’am?’ she asked, finally able to get some sensible words out.

‘They’d like an answer by next week—think you can manage that?’

Stevie attempted to smile but her face felt stretched and tight, as if coated with cosmetic peel. ‘Sure.’

Dolly must have read the doubt in her expression. ‘You know Stevie, you’re a bloody good officer, one of the best I’ve had. Your capture of Robert Mason was masterful. For all of our sakes, I hope you give the job serious consideration.’

Stevie rose to her feet. ‘Thank you, ma’am, I will.’

Dolly regarded her for a moment then smiled. ‘You’d damn well better, girl.’

20

Wayne drove most of the way to the herbalist with his jaw clamped, Barry’s words ‘he’s sweet on her’ playing over in his mind like an unwelcome tune. Damn Barry for choosing just the wrong moment to enter the herbalist’s, just as he’d been having a harmless flirt with Angela Nguyen.