‘Well, that’s great to know.’
Cain appeared at the top of the stairs. ‘Only whose opinion?’
‘Ben was just reminding me of what Des thought of me.’
Cain looked at Ben. ‘Des was just a bit superstitious and a little bit afraid of hard work, God rest his soul.’
Morgan smiled at Cain. ‘How come you’re so diplomatic and he’s not?’
‘Some of us are natural charmers, some of us aren’t. Need to work on those skills, Benno lad, do you want some lessons? I won’t charge.’
Ben stared at Cain. ‘Did you want something?’
‘Yes, actually. Mads is flapping downstairs about the funeral and wanted to speak to you about the guard of honour.’
Ben turned and began to walk back downstairs to speak to Mads, leaving Cain and Morgan.
‘Come on, I’ll escort you to your desk and make you a coffee. How come you’re here anyway? Thought you were still stuck down in Barrow.’
‘Right place at the wrong time I suppose. I’d just been dropped off at Ben’s when he got called out and I offered to help. Will doesn’t need me in Barrow and to be honest I don’t think he ever did.’
‘Well thank God for that, this place has been boring without you, Brookes. I’m glad you’re back.’
She grinned at him. ‘You might not be saying that in a few hours.’
‘Probably not but it sounds good.’ Cain pushed open the door to the empty CID office, and her eyes fell onto Des’s empty desk.
‘I still can’t believe it.’
‘No, me neither, I hope those bastards rot in hell for what they did.’
Neither of them mentioned that it could have been Morgan who had been killed. The bedroom wall full of photographs of her meant that one of the killers who got Des had been worryingly obsessed with her.
‘You know I’m bloody starving, I’ve been off the carbs for two weeks now so my tunic will fasten up later. No disrespect, Des, but as soon as this is over, I’m eating the biggest chicken mayo baguette I can find.’
Morgan laughed. ‘I thought you looked a little thinner. Why didn’t you just get a new tunic?’
Cain looked aghast. ‘Never, I’m not admitting defeat and telling stores I’m a fat bastard who can’t stop eating.’
‘You are not fat, you’re just right.’
‘And you are very sweet. I needed to drop a few pounds anyway though, I’ve got my fitness test next month.’
She grimaced. ‘I hate them.’
‘Me too, you’re okay though for now with that ankle. They can’t make you do a bleep test with that, can they?’
‘That is probably the one and only advantage of wearing this boot.’
Morgan sat down at her desk, while Cain disappeared to go and brew up. The office was too quiet without Amy and Des’s continual bickering. As if she’d summoned her the door opened and in walked Amy.
‘Hey, how are you doing?’
‘Hey, good to see you, Morgan. Better after today; I think once this is over it might be easier you know. Not that I want to forget all about it, but it’s like all I can think about. I heard about last night, thought I’d better come in and see if Ben needed a hand. Are you back for good?’
She shrugged. ‘Who knows, depends what mood the boss is in. I’m backfor nowanyway.’
Amy lowered her voice. ‘That man has more moods than a menopausal woman and I should know my mother was a nightmare.’
