He unfurled one of his arms and tapped the top of the board with his outstretched finger. “DNA evidence is usually the key to any investigation, isn’t it, Inspector?”
“Ordinarily it is, sir. However, at the moment, it’s all very confusing. We arrested and charged a man for three of the murders, but then another victim landed on our patch with the man’s DNA. The thing is, he was behind bars at the time of the murder, so there is no chance he carried out the crime.”
“I see. What sort of DNA? Semen again?”
“Yes, sir. That type of DNA is hard to discount, as you can imagine.”
“So, what do you intend doing about it, Inspector?” his eyes remained on the board as he asked the question.
Sally gulped. “Our hands are tied right now, sir. We do have an initial sketch of another suspect, but I don’t think it’s a good likeness, to be honest. We’ve shown it to all the possible witnesses and haven’t produced a single name as yet.”
He slowly swivelled to face her, and his eyes widened once they landed on her face. “What the?”
Self-consciously, she looked away from her superior. “It’s nothing, sir.”
He marched past her. “In your office, now.”
Sally raised her eyes to the ceiling and told Jack to hold the fort. “Make sure everyone is chasing up what they need to chase, Jack. Looks like I’m in for a bumpy ride. Let’s try not piss him off any more than we have to, eh?”
The chief held open the door until she’d joined him. He slammed it shut after she’d sat in her chair behind the desk, which thankfully, she’d managed to clear a little. “In my defence, sir, one black eye was caused in the line of duty.”
He lowered himself into the chair opposite her and shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me about this? It’s hardly professional to perform one’s duties as a serving detective looking as though you’ve gone ten rounds with Manny Pacquiao. What sort of image of the Norfolk Constabulary does that portray?”
“Accidents occur, sir. There was little I could do about dodging a suspect’s fist this time. I did try,” she stated, skirting the truth.
“Nevertheless, you should have informed me. Wait a minute… one eye, you said—how did the other eye get blackened then?”
Sally glanced out at the blue sky and sighed. “The other was a deliberate act by my ex-hubby.”
“Why? No, on second thoughts, I don’t want to get involved in that. I will say one thing; if any of my officers turn up looking the way you do, I should be informed about it immediately. What if the super had spoken to me about it? Can you imagine how foolish I would have felt not knowing what he was referring to?”
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t really think about that. I was too busy nursing my wounds, and my ego, for that matter.”
“Why on earth didn’t you ring in sick? At least for a day or two until the swelling abated?”
“You know me—or you should do by now. As long as my legs will carry me, I’ll always report for duty.”
“I’ll give you that. You’re like every other woman I have the misfortune of knowing—stubborn. Talking of the super, he’s hounding me for a conclusion on this case. He also wanted to know why there has been a significant lack of media attention?”
“Until now, sir, we haven’t had a lot to go on. I felt it was better to refrain from informing the media until we had something positive to announce. I was about to make an appeal when the DNA evidence pointed us in Dorling’s direction, and now this. Right from when we picked him up, I’ve had doubts about his guilt.”
“Then why arrest him?” The chief tilted his head a little.
“DNA, it’s what we work with. I have my team working on every angle to find the true perpetrator. The thing is, Dorling almost ended his life because we fu… screwed up.”
“That’s very unfortunate. So, are you looking into the possibility of someone trying to stitch this man up?”
“Yes, sir. Like I said, we have a preliminary sketch of a suspect, and I went to see Dorling today, hoping he could identify the man, but his eyes are severely damaged from his suicide attempt, although they should improve in time. I think if it meant he was able to discount himself and put someone else in the frame, he’d do it.”
“So what’s the next course of action for you, Inspector? Wait, before you try and answer that, I have to tell you that I’m seriously considering taking the case off you.”
“Why? I’m… we’re doing our best, and I truly do believe we’re close to finding the true culprit. Please, don’t take the case from under us now.”
“I feel for you. However, I have the super breathing his dragon-like breath down my collar. You know as well as I do the stringent targets we have to meet at present.”
“I’m all too aware of those idiotic targets, sir. I have to say in our defence that my team usually have no trouble meeting those targets.”
“Indeed. Maybe that’s the reasoning behind the super’s insistence—in the past, you’ve just been too good at your job. Now you’re being punished for your own success.”
“Jesus, really? It’s a bloody catch-22 situation. We’re damned if we do, and doubly damned if we don’t. Forgive me for retaliating aggressively, sir, but bloody hell, where is the justice in that?”
“There isn’t one. In the force’s eyes, it’s a matter of getting results or shipping failing officers out.”
Sally leaned against the back of her chair, the fight fleeing her rapidly. “Where’s the incentive in that? I don’t mean to be argumentative, sir, but sometimes, cases have a habit of spinning out of control, no matter how many hours you spend on them. You are aware that I’ve spent the last few nights here, sleeping at my desk, aren’t you?”
“No, I wasn’t aware. I’m not the one doubting you or your team’s capabilities—neither is the super, really—but targets are targets, and they need to be met.”
“I understand that, and believe me, I’m doing my utmost to adhere to those targets. Maybe we should show the criminals the spreadsheet and tell them to buck up their ideas. Now that’s a thought, isn’t it?”
His stern façade broke into a smile. “Has anyone ever told you how funny you are when you’re annoyed?”
“No. And now isn’t a very good time to start, either. Please, give us until the end of next week to come up with the goods.” Sally had a feeling her DCI was talking garbage anyway, given the size of the Norfolk Constabulary. The department didn’t have the resources to bring another team in to deal with the case and starting from scratch would have been more detrimental than allowing Sally’s team to continue to run the case.
He rose and walked towards the door. “Very well. On one condition.”
Sally bounced forward in her chair. “Name it.”
“That you keep me informed of your progress at the end of every day.”
“Crap! Really? That’s like returning to kindergarten rules.”
“You’re not the only one who needs to up their game, Inspector. There’s no need to give me an update this evening. Let’s start on Monday, okay?”
“If I must, sir. Enjoy your weekend.”
“You, too. Let’s hope your eyes are at least back to their normal size come Monday morning.”
He left the office. Moments later Jack walked in. “Everything all right, boss?”
“Tickety-boo, Jack. Tickety-fucking-boo,” she snapped at him. He retreated quickly, and she regretted taking her foul mood out on him. She kicked the table leg and winced with pain. Jesus, when are you going to learn to curb that temper of yours? She returned to the incident room and circulated it, speaking to each member of the team, getting updates on the tasks they’d been set. At the end of her tour, she clapped and called for their attention.
“Listen up, folks. I’m going to say this as it was said to me. The chief has given us exactly seven days to conclude the case.”
“So, he’s going to issue us with the necessary manpower, is he?” Jack asked, looking annoyed.