“Yes sir, if I can help of course”, replied the man in the hat for Jack suddenly realised he had not removed his hat and so did so immediately. This he saw caused Denton-Smyth to snigger, no, thought Jack that was unkind, he had only smiled.

“I wonder if, whilst I am away you might just get old May to give the office a dusting, I know it is a bit difficult me making her redundant but I don’t really want these cheap contract cleaners let loose in here whilst I am away.  As the office will not be used, I have made Striker acting Inspector he can cope and from Ling’s office.  This room will just need a dust occasionally”.

“That will be no problem at all sir, you can be assured I will get May on the case, so to speak”.

“Ah well done Jack I knew you would do it. By the way I know you have only just started on this after dinner entertainment night thing but have you anything to report?”

“Not a thing sir, not a thing”

 “I was only saying to my wife I have a feeling I have been lumbered with this and I may well have egg on my face, I can’t detect a smell of a crime in it”.

“I agree Jack. Well the best of luck, not only with the case but updating the powers to be that you failed or worse rising to speak at the dinner with not a surprise to speak of, well I must get on”.

Jack realised that was his cue to leave, he rose and left.

Arriving downstairs he was about to leave when Striker called him “I hope you don’t require Ling again today. She will be tied up here for the rest of the day”

Jack turned, smiled but didn’t speak, he then left and as he did so he heard Striker whisper, “stupid old fogey, a has been”.

This caused Jack to smile for he realised he had caused Striker more aggravation by ignoring him than giving him the pleasure of a reply.

He arrived back at his office entered his room and as he did so he saw Sergeant Strutter Large and Constable Dog Breath Johnson standing at the door, they had it appears been awaiting his return.

He walked inside stood at his desk then turned, he saw both officers talking and giggling. He removed his hat lifted it and threw it as one did with a boomerang so that it landed on the head of Sergeant Large.

As Jack the hatless walked further inside he said, “Which ever of you smart arses removed my hat stand?”

“Put it back”.

He heard shuffling behind him and the hat stand was brought back and replaced in its original position.

Jack looked at both the officers then spoke

“Have you two loonies working in this never land any idea why you are here?”

“Before you speak”, he continued, “I will tell you.  It is because you are idiots and crap coppers and they have shuffled you in here out of the way.”

“I will tell you this only once, read my lips.  I am doing this job specifically at the request of the Home Secretary and the Inspector of Constabulary, a word from me to them you are impeding my enquiry and your feet won’t touch the floor.”

“Don’t think Denton-Smyth will save you; he is only interested in getting to the top himself.”

“In future keep your noses out of my business, keep you feet out of my office and don’t` fuck with me. Is that all clear enough for you?”

“You can leave now close the door and let us hope we work in tranquillity in future”.

As they left, he heard a giggle and could see in the mirror Johnson was laughing, so he added, “Johnson?”

“Yes, Richards” called the officer.

“Clean your teeth, your breath smells like a dog”

He did not turn for any reaction but sat down and heard the door close; when he did turn, he was seated alone.

He opened both the files he had been given and so read the first.

Robert Friday, 28 years of age, a single man, he had an ordinary education, did not appear to have any qualifications, no certificates of any consequence. He left school at the age of 17 years then worked in a local factory. His main hobby was go kart racing.

The next entry, he joined the police service here in Chester in January three years ago and after one year became a traffic officer, presumably due to his driving skills.

Nothing of any consequence there thought Jack, then, he read it again, and yes, maybe he thought.

He opened the next file that of Sidney Upton, “What’s here?” he thought.

“Nothing startling, he sat his CSE’s and had reasonable grades.  He left school at the age of 18 years he then worked, as a shelf stacker for several years, there is a gap, more than likely unemployed in the current climate.”

“He joined the Police in Chester in January three years ago. He spent two years on the beat in Chester. Oh, interesting, he had a complaint made against him for abusing some buskers, he was given advice”.

On the recommendation of Sergeant Striker he became traffic officer, passed the advanced driving course same as the rest. He married just over a year before his death, no child of the marriage it appears.

He closed the files and sat back and contemplated but was disturbed in his thoughts by a knock on the door.

“Come in” he called; it was May bringing in two drinks, “Ah May thank you, Doris won’t be here leave the drinks I will deal with both of them”.

“Tell me?” Are there many posters in the police station for recruiting?” May.

“I can tell you that, there are none. All recruiting stopped four years ago and the training department disbanded the cuts you see”.

“I thought so” he replied. “I have a favour”.

“Yes”” she said, “how can I help?”

“Well now Mr Denton-Smyth is going away”.

“Thank God for that” said May.

“Now, May forgive and forget. I would take it as a favour if from time to time you might just visit his office and do a little dusting etc".

“The cheeky bugger, I will bet he has asked you that, the cheek of him, making me redundant now he wants me to clean after him”

“Come now May I would take it as a favour if you would, no matter what you think of him he is the boss here and he can make life easy or awkward for us all working on this case”.

“Well Mr Richards you have been good to me, getting me this job and I may say giving me a few hours at your house, yes OK for you, I will do it".

“Thank you May, no need to go in there for a while just wait until he has gone.”

“In fact I will give you a wink and a nod when to go, it will only be some light work”.

She left; he turned once again to the files making a note of the addresses and telephone numbers.

He picked up the telephone and dialled the first number; it was answered after a delay giving him the despair there was no one at home.

“Hello, Mrs Friday here”

“Hello Mrs Friday my name is Jack Richards I am working with woman Inspector Scott-Ling who I think you know”.

“Yes she is the nice lady who came to tell me about Bob”.

“Yes that is her,” he said, using a persuasive voice as possible. We are looking a little further into the death of your son and we would like very much to speak with you and Mrs Upton, tomorrow if possible”.

“Just a minute” she replied.

He could hear her speaking in the background “It’s that nice police woman and some man, they want to speak with you and me about the deaths of Sid and Bob, they want to come tomorrow”.

He waited with baited breath then, “Yes that is OK, Sir, I will be here at Bob’s house”

“The force let me stay for a while until I can clear his stuff and find somewhere to live. We will all be here the three of us, what time will you come?”

“What about, say 10am?” said Jack, thanking his lucky stars.

“Yes alright then” and the phone was replaced.

The three of us he thought, now there is a mystery, having noted the details he sat further and pondered.

It was not until 7pm that Doris arrived looking worn out, “I am ready for home,” she said.