‘It’s got to be someone in the village,’ was the characteristic sweeping judgement Carson began the meeting with at the Major Crime Unit the next morning. A couple of other detectives nodded in agreement. One, who was new to the department, sitting next to Carson, spoke up.
‘It makes complete sense. We should concentrate our efforts there and move quickly. I’m confident we should have this wrapped up by the end of the week.’
Carson smiled.
‘I’d like to introduce DI Bobby Warner. He’ll be joining us for this investigation as Ottey deals with her house move.’
‘Morning,’ smiled Warner.
This was a surprise to Cross as Carson had told him only yesterday morning that he himself would be filling in for Ottey. It was good for him to keep his hand in, on the ground, he’d told them all. Now this. Cross wondered what had happened in the intervening twenty-four hours.
‘DI Warner is from Kent Police and has an enviable reputation for his speed at closing cases. We’re lucky to have him for this interim period. He’ll work alongside DS Cross but obviously as a DI will take the lead on any decisions and lines of investigation,’ Carson went on, his face turned to Cross to see if there was any reaction from him. There wasn’t.
‘Right, let’s get to it!’ Carson announced.
Cross was out of his seat, across the room and into his office like a bullet.
Carson turned to Warner. ‘Remember what I said,’ he cautioned him.
‘Of course. I shall tread lightly with Cross,’ Warner replied reassuringly.
What he understood to be the meaning of that expression, or indeed his understanding of what Carson had told him about Cross earlier, was brought into question half an hour later, when he marched across the open area towards Cross’s office carrying a chair. Behind him were two uniforms carrying a desk he seemed to have requisitioned from somewhere. He opened the door without knocking and placed the chair against the wall opposite the shocked Cross’s desk.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’ asked Cross.
‘I would’ve thought that was obvious,’ replied Warner.
‘I can see you’re moving a desk into my office. The question actually was what you thought you were doing,’ Cross pointed out.
‘We’re a team, George.’
‘DS Cross,’ Cross corrected him.
‘DS Cross, and as such it makes much more sense for us to share an office,’ Warner explained.
‘Not to me. I don’t want to share an office,’ said Cross.
‘Well, as the junior member of the team if you’re going to reject my offer of a shared office, I suggest you move your desk elsewhere,’ Warner replied defiantly.
‘I have a special arrangement.’
‘You had a special arrangement,’ said Warner.
‘Have you discussed this with DCI Carson?’ asked Cross as the two uniforms deposited the desk opposite his.
‘I have not and nor do I intend to.’
Cross looked outraged. Police staffer Alice Mackenzie, observing this encounter from the open area, was concerned. There was something about the way Warner was going about this which made her think it was deliberately provocative. Like he was trying to make a point. He also looked like he was enjoying it.
Cross got up from his desk, walked out, and went straight to Carson’s office. The DCI was in the middle of a meeting, but Cross knocked on the door and started speaking immediately. It was odd that he should knock as his sense of decorum dictated, then immediately interrupt in such a rude manner.
‘He is moving a desk into my office,’ said Cross. ‘My office,’ he repeated as if to make his point.
Carson thought about this for a moment, nodded apologetically to the other detective, who took the hint and left, and tried to figure out how to deal with this.
‘Well maybe it’s time for a change, George. In the office accommodation arrangements, that is,’ he began, knowing this was going to be a difficult conversation.
‘We had an agreement. You cannot simply renege on it,’ replied Cross whose indignation had now rendered his cheeks a delicate shade of pink.
‘I know, but why don’t you just give it a go?’
‘I cannot and I will not,’ spat Cross like a displeased child.
Carson realised that he was now in an extremely awkward position. He didn’t know who he was more annoyed with. Cross for his obdurate refusal to comply or Warner for completely disregarding what he’d told him not an hour before. He’d made it quite clear how Cross worked and how his value to any investigation outweighed people’s accusations of his getting special treatment. Carson never denied this was a fact, partly because he knew he had the support of the chief. But Warner had now created an impossible situation. Carson couldn’t countermand him as he outranked Cross and his request wasn’t exactly outlandish. Unless, of course, you were unfamiliar with Cross.
‘Is there a problem?’ Warner asked innocently, having appeared at the door.
‘You know very well there is,’ replied Cross.
‘If I knew I wouldn’t have asked.’
There was a silence during which both Warner and Cross looked to Carson for an answer. He hated these situations at the best of times, despite the fact that he prided himself on his man-management skills. He hated them even more when they involved Cross because invariably the situation could only be solved by his taking Cross’s side. But that wasn’t an option here.
‘George, I’d like you just to see how this new arrangement goes,’ he began. ‘I know it’s not what you’re used to, but let’s just see what happens.’
Cross was about to reply when Mackenzie appeared with a note which she gave to Cross. He read it then looked up at Carson.
‘The Cotterells have come back from London and are happy to be interviewed,’ he said.
‘The neighbours?’ asked Warner.
‘Correct,’ said Cross.
‘Well come on. Let’s go,’ said Warner already on his way to Cross’s office to get his car keys. Cross didn’t move. Warner reappeared, keys jangling purposefully in his hand. ‘Are you not coming, DS Cross?’
Cross neither moved nor answered.
‘Fine. Suit yourself. I’ll go on my own.’ He then strode out of the office like the man on a mission he was.
‘Are you really not going with him, George?’ asked Carson.
‘I am not,’ he replied.
‘Then how are you going to get there? It’s a bit far for a bike, isn’t it?’ asked Carson.
‘Definitely. But then I have no intention of going to the village,’ he said.
‘Why not? Please don’t make things difficult from the get-go.’
‘Because the Cotterells are waiting in the Voluntary Assistance suite downstairs,’ said Cross looking at the note. As he then left the office Carson couldn’t help but smile at the wily old detective. He spotted Mackenzie also smiling.
‘That will be all, thank you, Alice,’ he said.
‘Yes, sir,’ she replied knowingly.