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Moran interrupted her. ‘I’m aware of all that, Tennison. If you’re willing to work for normal pay and days off in lieu, as opposed to costly overtime, then you can head up the house-to-house. Edwards, same rule goes for you if you want to be on the investigation.’

Jane and Edwards agreed. Earning extra money was a bonus, but never a big deal when it came to a murder inquiry; it was more about being part of a challenging case.

Moran closed his notebook and put his pen back in his jacket pocket. ‘Right, DI Gibbs will be my number two on this investigation. We’ll head back to the station. I’ll get more detectives in from the surrounding stations and contact the coroner’s officer to arrange a post-mortem later this morning. Tennison — you head back to the station with Edwards. Do your night duty report first, then prepare the house-to-house documents and questionnaires. You can get uniform to assist in the house-to-house, as well as the Special Patrol Group. DS Lawrence and the SOCO can finish bagging the body and examining the scene. If possible, I’d like to know who the dead woman is before the post-mortem.’

‘I’ll take a set of fingerprints while I’m here,’ Lawrence said. ‘Uniform can take them straight up the Yard for Fingerprint Bureau to check. If she’s got a criminal record they’ll identify her.’

Moran nodded his approval. As he walked off with Gibbs, Edwards turned to Jane.

‘He could have poked someone’s eye out the way he was swinging that umbrella! I reckon he’s in a mood because the baby kept him up, and his wife gave him a hard time about being called in.’

Jane said nothing, but she suspected there was some truth in Edwards’ comment. Just as she was about to follow him back to the CID car, Paul called out: ‘Can you grab the large roll of Scotch tape from my forensic bag?’

He and the SOCO had wrapped the body in the white body sheet and twisted each end tight. Jane knew the procedure and helped by rolling the tape several times around each twisted end to secure them. She always found it surreal that a bagged dead body ended up looking like an enormous Christmas cracker.

‘Thanks, Jane.’ As the SOCO moved away, Lawrence asked, ‘Is Moran always so tetchy these days?’

‘Wife had a baby recently; sleepless nights are probably getting to him.’

‘Well, he was wrong to have a go at you and ignore my advice. He should have called out a pathologist.’

‘He was probably just asserting his authority to let us know he’s boss.’

‘He might be in charge, but he’s spent most of his career on various squads like vice, so he’s not had a lot of experience in major crime or murder investigations.’

‘He did solve the Hackney rapes and murder committed by Peter Allard, the cab driver,’ Jane pointed out.

‘Yes — but I also recall he was accused of faking Allard’s confession. If it hadn’t been for your dogged work in that case, he wouldn’t have solved it. He showered himself in glory because of you, Jane. He seems to have forgotten that you stuck your neck out for him that night in the park acting as a decoy. You were the one that got attacked by Allard, not him.’

‘I know, Paul, but I think he’s mellowed since our Hackney days. Apart from this morning he’s been OK towards me.’

‘Well, I’d be wary of him, Jane,’ warned Lawrence. ‘He likes to think he knows best, which puts not only the investigation at risk, but the officers on it as well.’

Chapter Two

After leaving the murder scene, Jane returned to the station to prepare for the house-to-house. It was 10 a.m. and she was in the canteen with DC Edwards and DI Gibbs, who was still dressed in his rock band gear and looked like someone working undercover in Carnaby Street. She was ready to brief thirty detectives and uniforms — male and female officers — who had been called in to assist with the house-to-house from local stations. Placing thirty blue A4-size folders down on the table, she waited for Gibbs to address the officers first.

‘H-to-H is your show, so tell ’em what you want done,’ Gibbs whispered to her, sitting on the edge of a canteen table.

It was the first time she’d briefed fellow officers as a DS, but despite feeling nervous, she spoke in a loud, firm voice.

‘OK, listen up, please. I’m Detective Sergeant Jane Tennison, in charge of the house-to-house enquiries on this murder investigation. For those of you who are not aware, the body of a white female was found in Bussey Alley at four thirty this morning by a local market trader. It appears she’s been strangled and possibly sexually assaulted. Misper enquiries have so far proved negative and it is imperative that we identify her as soon as possible. Thorough and detailed house-to-house enquiries are critical to the investigation.’ Jane paused. The room was silent, then an elderly PC spoke.

‘You really a DS, love?’ he asked in a condescending manner.

Jane was annoyed at being called ‘love,’ but before she could reply, Gibbs stood up and pointed at the officer.

‘Yes, she is, and if you don’t like it then I suggest you bugger off back to your station and tell them DI Gibbs kicked you off house-to-house because of your attitude.’

There were raised eyebrows around the room. Due to his unusual attire, nobody had suspected that Gibbs was a DI.

‘I’m sorry, sir,’ the offending officer replied.

Jane was irritated that Gibbs had spoken for her. ‘And you can call me Sergeant or Sarge,’ she said, looking at the PC, pausing briefly before continuing.

‘Each folder contains a description of the victim. Every resident must be asked if they know or had seen anyone matching that description in the last twenty-four hours. I want full background details of all the occupants in every residence. There is also a questionnaire about their movements and whereabouts on Friday and the early hours of Saturday morning.’ Jane pointed to the blue folders on the table in front of her. ‘Help yourselves to a folder. Each one has the street and premises numbers to be visited on the front. If you feel that anyone is lying, hiding something, or being evasive, then inform myself, DI Gibbs or one of the Murder Squad. Please leave the completed forms and questionnaires in the CID office, which is being used as the murder incident room. I have marked up a desk tray as: “In, completed H-to-H.”’

As the officers stepped forward and helped themselves to a folder, Gibbs leant towards Jane.

‘Well done. Good briefing.’

‘Thanks. I could have handled that PC myself, you know, so next time, please don’t...’

‘Yeah, I know you could, Tennison. It’s just that those mouthy uniforms really get up my nose, especially the old boys who try to impress the crowd.’

‘I’ll keep an eye on him while I’m out monitoring the house-to-house.’

‘Edwards can do that. Post-mortem’s set for eleven a.m. and you need to be there.’

‘Will Moran be OK about that?’

‘You were first on scene, so officially you have to ID the body to the pathologist. I’ve not had much dealing with Moran before, other than briefly on that Allard case. Is he always so grumpy and serious?’

‘He and his wife are struggling with a new baby, keeping them up a lot. Edwards thought Moran might take some time off and let you run the investigation.’

Gibbs laughed. ‘He probably gets more peace and quiet here. Shitty nappies and sleepless nights don’t appeal to me either. You must be knackered yourself, what with being up all night.’

‘No, I’m fine. I’ll finish writing up my night duty report and give you a lift to the mortuary.’

‘I’m waiting for my girlfriend to bring me in a change of clothes from my flat, so I’ll meet you there,’ Gibbs said, walking away.