‘Happy now?’ she asked Bryant as they exited Mitch’s lab.

‘Guv, you do know we’re on the same side, yeah?’

‘Of course, but I told you we were on the right track with Mancini. My only doubt is the involvement of his father, who incidentally, we haven’t seen for days.’

Bryant gave her a look that she couldn’t read, and it irked her. Right now, he irked her.

‘Okay, listen, I’m gonna go see if senior Mancini turned up for his meeting with Vanessa, and you should go check both their lockers. I think it would be good to split up for a while.’

Although he just nodded and said nothing, Kim could tell he also thought it was a good idea.

Kim shook her head as he walked away, wishing she felt the courage of her convictions about Giovanni Mancini, but every time she fought the corner of his guilt, a warning finger somewhere inside wagged at her.

She tried to remember any point in her training or cases she’d worked since in which completely disregarding forensic evidence had been thought a good idea. Normally it was the ‘golden nugget’ of an investigation upon which entire cases were won. Not only did it provide a link from suspect to victim but allowed them to put an expert in the witness box, which always went down well with a jury.

There was no doubt that the evidence they had led back to the Mancini household. To redirect her thoughts could only mean that someone with access to the evidence and the household had put it there and that was one hell of a leap she was not prepared to make, she decided, as she reached the admin block just as a smartly dressed woman in high heels was exiting.

‘May I help you?’ she asked, pleasantly, as she allowed the door to close behind her.

‘Is Vanessa Wilson in her office?’

The woman shook her head. ‘I’m Sophie, personal assistant to the Nephrology team, is there anything I can do for you?’

Oh, how Kim hated being spoken to with the Friday afternoon tolerance of someone who had no inclination to help her at all and already had eyes on the weekend.

Kim showed her ID. ‘Do you know where she is?’

‘She may have gone to get coffee. She was here earlier.’

Ah, maybe this woman could help her after all.

‘She was due to conduct a disciplinary at 3 p.m. Do you know if Mr Mancini arrived for it?’

She nodded. ‘He did, indeed. I took the minutes of the meeting. As it was a simple postponement there was no member of HR required.’

‘It’s been postponed?’ Kim asked.

‘Yes. Vanessa is still awaiting advice from an HR lawyer as this is quite a unique situation. She explained to Mr Mancini that although there was no accuser or a witness she couldn’t simply sanction his return to work without full authorisation from a higher level.’

Kim could feel Mr Mancini’s frustration. He’d probably been hoping that the whole sorry, sordid ordeal would be put to bed today one way or another. Awaiting the verdict was often worse than the verdict itself.

‘And how did he take it?’ she asked.

‘He was upset, annoyed, tried to argue his case, even though Vanessa was quite clear that it would make no difference and that he would have to remain on suspension. That’s paid suspension,’ she added, clearly for the benefit of someone without any employment law knowledge. It was the law. It had to be.

She would have preferred to hear about the episode from Vanessa herself, but the woman was busy and deserved a ten-minute break down at the café.

‘Did Mr Mancini give any indication of where he was going?’ she asked one of the only two people who had seen him in recent days.

‘I’m sorry but no. It wasn’t that kind of meeting,’ she answered as footsteps approached from behind. ‘Pleasantries were not exchanged.’

‘Everything okay here, Miss Potts?’ asked the trusty security guard, Tyrone.

‘It’s fine but this police officer may need help finding her way back to the—’

‘I can find it perfectly well,’ Kim said, realising that their discussion was over.

‘Okay, then. Well have a good weekend,’ Sophie said to both of them before disappearing along the corridor and out of view.

‘Thanks, Tyrone, but my trail of breadcrumbs should get me back to the lab perfectly safely,’ she said.

‘It’s okay, Inspector. I’m more than happy to take you back to where you want to go,’ he said, tapping her arm.