Aftermath

The one good thing about the new appointment was her office. Western Division had taken over the building adjoining the old Tudor-fronted headquarters, part of the same structure, knocked through the walls and redone the interior. While A

Beyond her frosted-glass compartment sat the two detective sergeants and three constables who, along with A

It probably wasn’t fair to blame Banks, A

A

“Ah, DI Cabbot. Please be seated.”

“Sir.”

A

“I’ve just been handed a most interesting assignment,” Chambers went on. “Most interesting indeed. One that I think will be right up your alley, as they say.”

A

“Yes. It’s about time you started pulling your weight around here, DI Cabbot. How long have you been with us now?”

“Two months.”

“And in that time you’ve accomplished…?”

“The case of Constable Chaplin and the toasted teacakes, sir. Scandal narrowly averted. A satisfactory resolution all around, if I might say so-”

Chambers reddened. “Yes, well, this one might just take the edge off your attitude, Inspector.”

“Sir?” A

“Yes,” Chambers went on, warming to his task, “I think you’ll find this one a bit different from toasted teacakes. This’ll wipe the grin off your face.”

“Perhaps you’d care to tell me about it, sir?”

Chambers tossed a thin folder toward her. It slipped off the edge of the desk on to A

“Seems a probationary PC in West Yorkshire has overdone it a bit with her baton and they want us to look into it. Trouble is, the chappie she overdid it with is suspected to be that Chameleon killer they’ve been after for a while, which, as I’m sure even you will realize, puts a different complexion on things.” He tapped the folder. “The details, such as they are at the moment, are all in there. Do you think you can handle it?”

“No problem,” said A

“On the contrary,” said Chambers, “I think there’ll be plenty of problems. It’ll be what they call a high-profile case, and because of that my name will be on it. I’m sure you understand that we can’t have a mere inspector still wet behind the ears ru

“If that’s the case,” said A

“Because I happen to be too busy at the moment,” said Chambers, with a twisted grin. “Besides, why own a dog and bark yourself?”

“Absolutely. Why, indeed? Of course,” said A

“I thought you would.” Chambers stroked one of his chins. “And as my name’s on it, I want no cock-ups. In fact, if any heads roll over this business, yours will be the first. Remember, I’m only a hairs-breadth away from retirement, so the last thing on my mind is career advancement. You, on the other hand… Well, I’m sure you catch my drift.”

A

“You’ll be reporting to me directly, of course,” Chambers went on. “Daily reports required, except in the event of any major developments, in which case you’re to report to me immediately. Understood?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said A

Chambers narrowed his eyes at her. “One day that mouth of yours will get you into serious trouble, young lady.”

“So my father told me.”

Chambers grunted and shifted his weight in his chair. “There’s one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t like the way this assignment was delivered to me. There’s something fishy about it.”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“I don’t know.” Chambers frowned. “Acting Detective Superintendent Banks from CID is ru

A

“And if my memory serves me well, you used to work with him as a DS before coming over here, didn’t you?”