Daniels heard their murmurs before they realized she was there. Rumour has it heads are going to roll, I heard the guv’nor got a right bollocking from Martin . . . Bet the boss is bloody furious . . . Yeah, well watch out. What goes up usually comes down – and we all know what that means. Rather than alert them to her presence, she remained on the threshold of the MIR, watching her team getting ready for potentially the most serious case any of them had ever been involved in.
Gormley was standing by the murder wall, carrying out her instructions to reinstate the Stephens enquiry so they could go back to the beginning and start the case afresh. Carmichael was diligently working away at her computer and Robson had his head down too, probably trying to blend into the background, given his spectacular and very public recent blunder. But Maxwell had his feet up, a mug of coffee in one hand, the Sun newspaper open on the desk in front of him – happy to carry on collecting the Queen’s shilling for as little work as possible. Infuriated, Daniels stormed over to him and ripped the paper away.
‘Right, I’ve had enough. Clear your desk!’ she said.
‘What?’ He didn’t think she was being serious, but it soon became apparent she was. Maxwell flushed, looking round the room for support. Found none. The rest of the squad simply turned their backs and got on with their work.
‘You heard. You’re off the squad, as of now. I can’t afford any passengers on my team, and you’ve been warned about your conduct often enough.’
‘I was having my bait!’
‘Do you see anyone else taking a break?’
‘You can’t do that!’ Maxwell protested.
‘I just did,’ Daniels said. ‘Now get your kit together and piss off.’
‘Boss, I—’
‘OUT!’
As Maxwell scurried off, the eyes of MIT were on Daniels, wondering who would be next to feel the lash.
‘Lisa, I need that coat. Don’t come back until you find it.’
Carmichael logged off, gathered her belongings and made a quick exit.
‘The rest of you, get back to work. And this time, do your jobs properly!’ She held a piece of paper aloft. ‘This is a list of urgent actions. Nobody goes home until they’re complete, understood?’ She scanned the room, finding Robson. ‘Robbo, I’m replacing you as statement reader. I’d like to see you in my office as soon as you’ve finished whatever it is you’re doing.’
Robson turned crimson, taken aback by the public humiliation. From the look on his face, he’d expected his dressing down to take place behind closed doors. Daniels scanned the room, could see that her decision was unpopular – the squad didn’t know where to look – but she had no intention of changing her mind. It was a hard lesson, but a vital one. It would act as a reminder to them all.
‘Well, what are you all waiting for?’ she yelled.
She went back to her office and closed the door behind her. The euphoria she’d felt at Jo’s release had been short-lived. Jo had refused Daniels’ visit to the court cells while bail forms were being organized, and declined the offer of a lift home, opting instead to go with Oliver.
Daniels was desperate to speak to her, but she still refused to take her calls.
There was a gentle knock on the door and she beckoned Robson in. He looked anxious as he closed the door behind him and ‘assumed the position’ on the opposite side of her desk – hands behind his back, feet slightly apart.
‘I take it I don’t need to explain why I’m replacing you?’
‘No, boss. But if I could just say in my defence—’
‘Can I just stop you there? As far as I’m concerned, you have no defence.’ She glared at him. ‘How the hell could you miss such a vital piece of evidence, Robbo? It’s basic procedure! You wear a coat in the winter, don’t you?’
Robson was perspiring badly: dark wet patches appearing around his armpits, a thin film of sweat visible on his brow. ‘Lots of lasses don’t, especially down the Quayside,’ he said lamely.
‘Don’t get flippant with me!’ Daniels snapped back. ‘This was a mature, affluent woman from Rotterdam, not some tart on the pull! You screwed up big style, and you know it!’
‘I understand why you’re angry—’
‘I very much doubt that.’
He obviously had no idea what on earth she was on about. Why should he? Daniels thought to herself. I was the one hiding the truth from him, from all my colleagues, from the whole wide world. What right have I to expect any of the squad to understand? But that didn’t excuse his incompetence.
‘I’m not looking for a scapegoat,’ Daniels said. ‘This is a major investigation and I can’t risk another cock-up. Besides, you deserve what’s coming. I hope you’re you man enough to take it?’
Robson didn’t answer.
‘Go on, get lost.’
‘Boss . . .’ He pushed back his shoulders and stood tall. ‘I appreciate you not taking me off the squad altogether. I know I’m in the wrong and I’m prepared to take full responsibility for my actions. I’d like a chance to make it up to you, though. I’ll do whatever it takes.’
The silence in the room was deafening.
Daniels cleared her throat.
‘We’ll see . . . Now get out of here before I change my mind.’