There was frantic activity in the incident room. Telephones rang, computer screens danced, and there was a constant hum of voices as Gormley wandered in from Daniels’ office. He found her standing beside a table resembling a paper mountain, supervising the arrival of several important documents: action forms, forensic submission forms, house-to-house questionnaires, various maps of the area. What wouldn’t fit neatly on the table was being unceremoniously dumped on the floor.
Gormley put his hand to his ear as if holding a telephone. ‘Jo, line one,’ he said.
Daniels sighed. ‘Later, I’m about to start the briefing.’
‘Finally!’ Bright was getting impatient.
Daniels had almost forgotten he was sitting there waiting for proceedings to get underway. She was keen to move on too, hoping he’d go back to his own enquiry and leave her be. As she called for order in the room, her squad paid attention. DC Carmichael was the last to put her own phone down, a worried look on her face.
‘Boss?’ she said. ‘There’s something you need to know.’
‘Yes, Lisa.’ Daniels pointed at the TV. ‘After we’ve watched the DVD.’
Carmichael leapt from her seat, switching the TV on and the lights off before handing Daniels the remote. As the screen came to life, the mood in the room changed. Excited anticipation gave way to calm professionalism as the murder investigation team watched the short transmission. Daniels studied their faces while they took in the crime scene for the first time: not just the blood and gore, but the classy flat, Stephens’ expensive clothes and valuable jewellery, his untouched wallet.
The television screen went blank. Carmichael switched it off again and turned the lights back on. Daniels thanked her and pointed to the victim’s photograph on the murder wall.
‘Nominal One is Alan Stephens,’ Daniels said. ‘What else do we know?’
‘You’re not going to like it,’ Carmichael said uncomfortably.
‘Something bothering you, Lisa?’ Bright said.
‘Stephens’ ex and the mother of his children is someone we all know personally.’
‘Does she have a name?’ Bright pushed.
‘It’s Jo . . . Soulsby.’
Bright laughed. ‘Yeah, now pull the other one.’
‘I’m serious, guv.’
All eyes were on Gormley.
‘I’ll call her back!’ he said.