2

Detective Sergeant Zander Ellery rested the brown wooden cane against the side of his desk and glared at the pile of paperwork. Eight years on the job, and this was what it came down to. Injured in the line of duty and now confined to a desk. He comforted himself with the thought that it could be worse. At least that’s what everyone kept telling him. He could have been medically retired, which at twenty-eight was way too early, or he could be dead. Of course dead wouldn’t have been so bad; taking a transfer to Heaven beat paperwork any day of the week.

And all because he literally put a foot wrong and became the squad laughing stock. He’d heard all the nicknames now—hop-a-long-Ellery, Long John Zander, Humpty Dumpty, pegleg and his favourite, Captain Boot. And that was only his favourite because it meant he’d outrank the Guv if they used the American ranks.

However, that didn’t mean he hated the cane any less, despite the fact it was one of Gramps’ borrowed for the duration. Zander refused point-blank to buy one, or use the one the hospital wanted to give him. Or to let his partner, DC Isabel York, buy him one as she kept threatening to do. Mainly because all the ones she’d offered had been pink or floral. He was just glad this wasn’t a permanent thing. In fact the had doc told him earlier that morning he really didn’t need the cane any longer.

He glanced up as Isabel set a cup of coffee in front of him. “Thanks.”

“Welcome. How did the doctor’s appointment go?”

He grinned and propped his foot on his desk. “No boot. He said I could use the cane for another week if I wanted, but it’s all healed nicely.”

She cheered. “Yay. Cakes are on you, then.”

Zander shot her the look, with a raised eyebrow tossed in for good measure. “Again?”

“Yup.”

“Why?”

“Because you buy better cakes than anyone else does.” Isabel sat at her desk and glanced at the door as it opened. “Morning, Sarge. I made you coffee, and it’s on your desk.”

DS Philips yawned as he slung his jacket on the back of the chair. “Is it?”

Zander glanced out of the window. “Well, it’s definitely coffee and on your desk. And it is daylight.”

“That doesn’t mean a thing with a baby in the house.” The other squad sergeant grumped and sipped his coffee. “He had us up six times last night. We’d become used to him sleeping through. Amy says he’s teething. Just don’t tell me it gets easier.”

Zander grinned and raised his hands. “I wouldn’t know, mate. I’m not married and don’t have any kids.”

“No need to rub it in. You don’t expect to be a dad again at my age. The other two are teenagers and usually fend for themselves, relatively speaking. And they also come with their own set of issues. I shouldn’t be starting all over again with nappies and feeds and school runs. But whatever you do, don’t tell Amy I said that. She’s already talking about having another one.”

“Well, three is an odd number. But then I’m one of five, and that’s an odd number as well.” Zander made notes in the margin of the file he was reading. “However, marriage and kids are nowhere on my to-do list. It’s bad enough having Isabel all lovey-dovey and looking longingly at wedding dresses and hairstyles.”

“Oh, hush, you. Anyone would think you were jealous.”

Zander snorted. “Yes, because I’d look fab-u-lous in a long, white, sparkly dress and a tiara. I’d give the pantomime dame a run for her money any day of the week.”

“You’re not allowed to run anywhere, remember.” Isabel flicked a piece of scrunched up paper at Zander. She opened the top file on her desk. “Just because we haven’t picked a date yet, doesn’t mean I can’t start planning. There’s a lot involved in organizing a wedding. Besides we’d like a long engagement. Gives us time to find a house and so on. Especially as Boaz has to sell his place in Buckingham. Neither of us really wants to start married life living with his parents…or with you and Gramps.”

Zander grinned. “But I’d even let you have the master bedroom. And first dibs on the bathroom. No, wait, you already have the bathroom first…”

“How is Boaz?” DS Philips asked. “Is he settling in OK over at Fleet Street?”

Isabel sipped her coffee. “He says it’s a breeze after running this squad for the three months the Guv was away. He’d rather have stayed here, but the powers that be have decided we can’t both work at the same station. Especially with him being my boss.”

“And you wonder why, after that worked so well over the last few months.” Zander snorted. “I remember a certain DCI thinking with his heart not his head at one point in December, torn between stopping you bleeding to death, and wanting to go knock someone’s block off for assaulting you with a deadly weapon.”

“Speaking of which, you need to go through your statements with the CPS at some point this week. I’ve already done mine. Sentencing is next week. They just want to make sure all the I’s are dotted and T’s crossed so his lawyer doesn’t find a loophole or a technicality to get him off with. I’m just glad he pleaded guilty. Saves a long, drawn out trial and even more press coverage.”

Zander snorted. “I’ll do them soon as I’ve finished this report. And it’s not like he had a choice but to say he was guilty. There were far too many witnesses for him to plead any other way.”

“He could have gone the insanity route.”

“Hah. I’d like to have seen him try.”

DS Philips yawned and rose. “If anyone wants me, I’ll be downstairs in interview room two. We need to charge or release Jansen by ten. Zander, you’re in charge for a few minutes.”

Zander grinned. “Think I can cope. So, Is, what’s on the agenda for today?”

Isabel leaned back in her chair. “The Guv wants us to follow up on that assault from early this morning. You’d have known this if you’d been on time for the team briefing. He warned everyone yesterday that said meeting would be early the next few days because he’s in court.”

“You know full well I had a doctor’s appointment because you dropped me off on your way here. Jackson says hi by the way… Hang on.” Zander paused. Had he heard Isabel correctly? “Did you just say I’m leaving the desk?”

His partner winked. “Yes, you are leaving your desk for the big, wide world. On the condition you walk and don’t do anything stupid.”

“Is the Guv trying to make it snow or something?” He tapped his pen on the file. “Didn’t we have enough nasty weather yesterday?”

“Apparently not.” Austin Lexington stopped by Zander’s desk. “Hey, did either of you see Jack’s House last night?”

Zander groaned. “Unfortunately, I caught the first ten minutes of it. Ten minutes of my life I’m never going to get back. In fact, I’m not sure how anyone can watch that rubbish. Never mind sign up and agree to be on display like that. Every move you make on national TV for three weeks. Still, at least it’s in a house and not in a jungle with those horrendous bush tucker trials and being covered in every insect known to man and then some. I shan’t be watching it again, that’s for sure. Life’s too short. It’s a good thing it clashes with Isabel’s cooking show on another channel.”

The door to the squad room flew open and a tall man blasted his way in. “Morning.”

“Morning, sir.” Everyone scrambled to their feet. Detective Chief Inspector Britton wasn’t the most popular man on the force, but he was the top boss.

He took in the room in one glance, eyes narrowing as he realised the end office was empty. “Is DI Holmes around?”

“In court,” Isabel supplied helpfully. “He’ll be there for the next couple of days. If not longer as it’s a nasty case and could drag. Is there anything we can help with, sir? DS Philips is interviewing, but I can get him back up here if you need him in particular.”

DCI Britton huffed. “Please do so quickly. This can’t wait. DS Ellery, a word in the DI’s office. Send DS Philips in as soon as he comes back, constable.”

“Yes, sir.” Isabel sat and picked up the phone. She stabbed the buttons with her pen.

Zander nodded, but didn’t move.

“Now, sergeant. I don’t have all day.”

“Yes, sir.” Zander rose and turned too quickly. He grabbed the top of his chair to regain his balance, worried about what the man was going to say. He hated showing any kind of weakness in front of the brass. If this leg had already mended according to his doctor, he wished it’d hurry up and do so properly and not give out on him at intervals. Who’d have thought catching criminals would be so dangerous? He glared at the cane. “You can stay there,” he told it. “I don’t need or want you.”

Isabel raised an eyebrow. “I thought you said…”

“I can use the cane for a week longer ‘if I want’, but I don’t have to. Right now, I don’t want.” Zander winked. “Best go see what the big chief needs this time.”