For Nailer, the day had been a long series of meetings with local councillors, mixed with calls to the Superintendent and others, while getting reports from the team and general management. He was helped by the small team of civilian investigators they’d brought with them and the digital technology they used.
The day had flown by, and as his shift came to a close, he got a message that Landon wanted to see him personally to get an update.
With the group’s meal at the Dog and Duck looming, he had little choice but to head south and hope he got back in time. Driving back to the Lodge, he thought back over the day and how the new team had worked together in these early hours.
Overall, the group had pulled together admirably during the day. It had been impressive to watch, and he felt reassured that he’d chosen well.
Rob had been a given, pretty much. When Landan had asked Nailer to join up, Loxley had been one of the first things they’d discussed. She had ideas and shared why she’d brought Rob on board early on.
But all that would come later once the team was settled.
Rob was a dedicated and skilled detective, and being an officer seemed to be his life. His background was both a hinderance and an asset, and it focused his mind in a way that was incredibly useful.
His long-term partner, Nick Miller, had also been an easy choice. These two detectives had impressed Nailer repeatedly over the years, and having Nick on his team for a few weeks following Orleton’s reassignment only confirmed that he would be a great choice.
Scarlett was more of an unknown. Having only recently moved up here from Surrey, no one really knew her, which could have been an issue. But, her conduct on the Sherwood Murder case with Rob, her single-mindedness, and how she’d helped take down their own DCI without flinching stood her in good stead.
Also, Rob seemed quite taken with her, and if Nailer had to guess, he felt it was quite likely that Rob would stick to having Scarlett as his main partner rather than go back to Nick. It was a curious development, but Rob seemed to have a solid relationship with Scarlett, and they worked together well, all of which would be good for the unit.
Despite all these positives, however, she was still something of a relative unknown to Nailer, and he resolved to keep an eye on Scarlett until he knew her better.
Guy Gibson was a man Nailer had worked with a few times during recent years, and he’d been impressed with the young man and his work ethic. He was bright, intelligent and steady. He knew what he was doing, all of which would stand him in good stead with the team.
Ellen and Tucker had both been on Nailer’s team for a while already, so when he was reassigned to the EMSOU, he knew immediately that he wanted to bring the pair with him. They were both gifted officers and would be assets to the team, in his opinion.
However, what he’d been less sure about was how well the group would gel. He’d picked out several strong personalities, and he could see some of these guys clashing if he didn’t manage them.
It would be a challenge, but it was one he’d gladly taken on following Landon reassigning him to the unit.
Nailer parked up at the Lodge and made his way inside. It wasn’t that far to Landon’s office, but he needed this to be quick, so he could get back to the job at hand and the meal he’d committed himself to attending. He was soon through reception and making his way upstairs.
He’d been keeping an eye on the group during the day to see how they interacted and had been left feeling pleased with the dynamic. He could see that a couple of groups had already formed, no doubt from having worked with certain people before.
Rob, Scarlett and Nick seemed close, although Nick crossed the divide and hung out with Ellen and Tucker just as easily. Guy seemed to flit between the two groups—which made sense given he was the odd one out—but spent more time with Ellen and Tuck than the others.
But then, they were all DCs, and Rob was their Inspector, their boss. It made sense that the DCs would stick together. Nick, however, being the Sergeant, bridged that gap.
Only Scarlett seemed immune to that hierarchy, but that was probably because she’d worked with Rob on her previous case and was familiar with him.
He’d keep an eye on that dynamic to see how it developed, but right now, all was as he’d expected it to be.
Reaching the corridor that Landon’s office was on, he marched over and knocked.
“Come,” she called out.
Nailer opened the door. “I’m heading off, ma’am.”
“Come in, John. Come in.” Superintendent Landon clicked her mouse and then looked up. She smiled. “Sorry to pull you away, but I needed to find out how your day went after you pulled them in early to help clear the boxes? Did they gel as a team?”
“Yeah, I think so. As much as I could have hoped for, anyway, so I’m satisfied, and they’re working well on this first case.”
“Excellent. How’s that progressing?”
“I’ll find out more tonight when I get back and chat with them all over dinner,” Nailer answered, keen to impress on her that he couldn’t stay. “But, from the reports I’ve had in, I know they’re making progress both on identifying the victim and rooting out suspects. They’re working well together.”
“Good. I must say, however, that as a team-building exercise, moving boxes is a little unorthodox. But, I can see the merits of it.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re happy with your choice of officers, then? No second thoughts?”
“No, not at all,” Nailer replied. “I’m very happy.”
“That’s good to hear. And how’s Rob doing?”
“He’s fine. Your plan to try him out on the Sherwood case worked perfectly, and there didn’t seem to be too much resistance from the brass about promoting him to EMSOU."
"You didn't see most of it,” Landon replied. “There were a few dissenting voices, but they saw the merits of my plan, even after the whole Orleton thing.”
Nailer grinned. “Are they worried Rob might go after them next?”
Landon snorted. “Are you calling your superiors corrupt, DCI Nailer?”
“No, of course not. I’m sure they’re all whiter than white.” Nailer grimaced. “But when there’s someone who has a knack for sniffing around other officers, it can make people nervous.”
“Maybe they should be nervous.” Landon’s face was dead pan.
“Maybe,” he conceded. “So, will you be diving back into Operation Major Oak soon?”
“There’s no rush for that,” Landon answered. “I will, but not just yet. Let’s see how things go. Rob’s family isn’t going anywhere, and neither is Rob.”
“I suppose not,” he conceded.
“I just hope, when the time comes, he’ll be as useful as I think he might be.”
“Don’t we all,” Nailer agreed. “Don’t we all.”