'Look, are you guys going about this systematically?' Karen Neville asked the Operations Inspector.
'Of course we are, Sergeant. But have you any idea how many white Mondeos there are in our area, let alone how many white motor vehicles? I will find this car for you, but I won't give you any guarantee as to how long it will take me.
'Now. I don't care whose bloody office you're in, stop being so bloody pushy and back off. Or I will call my boss, and have him call ACC Elder, and have him lean on your boss… I think he still outranks him. Or am I wrong?'
'He doesn't outrank Bob Skinner though. Do you want to talk to him?'
The phone at the other end of the line was slammed down.
'Karen,' said Sammy Pye. 'I think you should calm down. You losing it is not going to help us find him.'
'Plodding so-and-sos like him aren't going to help us either,' she shot back.
Pye stood and walked across to her desk; he sat in the edge and took her hand. 'Listen, Sarge,' the young Detective Constable murmured gently. 'You're giving away too much here. At the moment only we know that Mr Martin's missing; but pretty soon others are going to twig, and here you are sending the message loud and clear to everyone you speak to that this thing goes way beyond the professional with you.
'If that gets back to the DCS when he does turn up, that could be very embarrassing for him – and problematical for you, because you know he won't like it.'
She gave his hand a quick squeeze. 'You're right, I'm sorry. I'll tell you what, you do all the talking from now on.'
The phone on her desk rang. Pye grinned and shook his head, as she picked it up automatically.
'Karen,' a steady voice said. 'This is Neil. Tell me why you are antagonising the entire ops room with this vehicle search of yours? I have just had a mate of mine on the blower yelling at me, insisting that I kick your shapely bottom.'
'You know why I'm doing it,' she answered.
She heard Mcllhenney's light, sad, laugh. 'Yes, love, I know. I couldn't tell him that though. Anyway, you are to stop it; cease; desist. This doesn't come from Ops; this comes from the Big Man himself. The DCS has turned up and he's safe.'
She slumped back into her chair, vision blurred with sudden tears.
'But there is to be no discussion of it,' the Inspector went on. 'In fact, after the waves you've made, best that you and Sammy just get out of everyone's way. Go and interview pigeons in the Botanies for the rest of the day.
'You'll be told where Andy is, maybe even get to see him, when Mr Skinner is good and ready. Till then, just be patient… and be relieved.'