---

Even though a sharp frost had fallen overnight, it was unbearably stuffy in the office. Robyn had been forced to scrape ice from her windscreen before leaving home and travelling the fifteen minutes to work. In spite of taking painkillers, she still had a dull headache. Normally, she’d have ignored it and gone for a run, but she’d spent the time instead ensuring everything was ready for Amélie later that day, and all evidence of her search for Davies locked away in a cupboard. She’d set up a clean litter tray and bowls of food and water for her new lodger, who appeared to be house-trained, and left Schrödinger sitting on the back of the settee, staring out of the window. It would be nice to have someone to welcome her when she returned.

It was very early but she wanted to get started before any of her officers arrived. She picked up the list of Gregson’s contacts and double-checked none had been ex-military or had any history of shooting. It was a task she’d not wanted to put off for so long but it yielded no positive results.

A siren wailed in the distance. The sound increased as it approached, and she moved across to the window to watch the blue light of an ambulance as it sped past the station in the direction of the hospital. Two more cars had pulled into spaces in the car park below. It wouldn’t be long until it was full and some latecomers would have to use the car park ten minutes away by foot.

She spun around. The door had opened. Shearer, face unshaven, walked in.

‘Should have guessed you’d be here,’ he said with a wry grin.

‘Says the man who looks like he’s slept in the cells all night.’

‘Sleep is a luxury I can’t afford. Thought I’d come in and get started.’

‘Great minds,’ said Robyn. ‘Fancy a coffee? I was about to kick the machine into life.’

Shearer yawned and stretched. ‘Sounds like a great idea. I’ve run out of milk at home. Don’t suppose you’ve got a bacon roll hiding anywhere?’

She laughed. ‘I can only offer coffee.’

‘That’ll do. I’ll pick up something later. I’m not interrupting you, am I?’

‘Yes, but I can manage. I needed some peace and quiet to order my thoughts. I managed that and now I’m ready to tackle the cases.’

‘Yeah, handling two cases simultaneously is a bit crap. I’d offer to help out but we’re still tidying up the assault in Stafford. Can’t believe how some people behave. It’s mad out there.’

Robyn was only half-listening, thinking instead of how best to approach each investigation. She’d probably keep Matt and Anna working together on the Gregson case.

Shearer took a sip and winced. ‘That is mega-hot. What is it with this machine? It either produces stuff that tastes like soap or it scalds your tongue off.’

‘It’s decent coffee. Blow on it and stop moaning.’ Robyn marched back to her desk.

He blew on the coffee and scowled at it then took a tentative sip. ‘This is still hot.’

‘You really are an old grouch, aren’t you? Want me to blow on it for you?’ Robyn crossed her arms and pursed her lips.

Shearer snorted in a friendlier manner. ‘I’ll manage. And of course I’m a grouch. I had two hours’ sleep last night. I’ve got a stack of paperwork to sift through, a case to close, a disgusting individual who held a woman and baby hostage to interview again, and I’ve got to appease my boss. And to top it all, I’ll have to try and prevent PC Murray from knocking into you every two minutes. It’s going to be a long day.’ He stomped to his desk and, dropping onto his chair, plonked his mug down and grabbed at a file. ‘Cheers for the coffee. It’s just what I needed,’ he muttered.

Robyn smiled to herself.

---

At just before eight, Robyn checked her watch. She’d been so busy she’d not noticed the time tick by. She had arranged a visit to the fertility clinic in Tamworth, and she’d need to get going if she was to reach the place before nine.

The clinic looked like an ordinary, brown-brick office block rather than a place that could transform people’s lives. Robyn felt an instant of sorrow as she pressed the buzzer outside the door. She hadn’t needed to attend such a place, but she understood the pain of desperately wanting a child.

She waited in the bright, cheerful reception before being escorted along a thick, carpeted corridor to an office at the far end. Mr Galloway, the consultant who’d seen Henry Gregson, was small and lean, and he leapt to his feet with an energetic burst when Robyn entered.

‘Sit down, Ms Carter,’ he said smoothly, as if she were one of his patients. ‘Such a terrible thing to happen. Tessa was a joy to work with: bubbly, hard-working and compassionate. She’ll be sorely missed.’

‘Thank you for sparing time to talk to me,’ said Robyn.

‘I don’t know how I can be of much assistance to you. We don’t get much time to socialise or chat in this job, I’m afraid, other than to ask the nurses for various medical information or assistance. I know little about the staff here.’

‘I understand. Can you tell me anything about Tessa at all?’

‘Only to reiterate what I’ve already told you. She worked efficiently. She was invariably cheerful. We like our staff to be upbeat and caring. It’s important. We deal with so many people for whom we are their last hope of having children, and it’s good to have friendly nurses like Tessa on board.’

‘She didn’t appear anxious about anything, maybe less focused or distracted recently?’

‘Far from it. She was assisting me on Monday and was quite ebullient. I remarked on it and she said she was looking forward to something “major” happening. I didn’t pry. I was on a tight schedule and had several patients to see. I suggest you talk to some of the others here. They have more opportunity to gossip.’

‘My officers have interviewed those who were her friends, but I might talk to one or two.’

‘Try Juliet Fallows. She’s one of her closest friends.’

‘Can I ask you about a patient?’

He pursed his lips. ‘Patient confidentiality. I won’t be at liberty to assist you on that.’

‘The patient in question is deceased. He was murdered on Tuesday.’

‘I still can’t reveal medical information. You know the score.’

‘I do. This isn’t so much about that. I wondered which nurse was dealing with him. He had an appointment with you, and I wondered if Tessa was assisting you that day.’

‘Who’s the unfortunate person?’ He folded his hands in front of him and gave her a clear-eyed look.

‘Henry Gregson. He had a consultation with you a couple of weeks ago. His wife Lauren has been here too.’

He nodded. ‘I know the Gregsons. Henry did consult me. Let me see when it was.’ He clicked his computer mouse and dragged up his appointment schedule. ‘He attended the clinic on Tuesday the seventh. Just over a week ago.’

‘Was Tessa working with you that day?’

He glanced at the screen again. ‘Yes, she was. Is there some connection between their deaths?’

Robyn returned his steady gaze. ‘I can’t comment on that, sir. I’d appreciate it if you could keep this conversation between us for now.’

‘I’m very good at keeping confidences, and I wish you luck. I wouldn’t want your job. Must be quite demoralising some days.’

Robyn didn’t respond. Her mind was whirring again with possibilities.

He stood to see her out of the office and spoke once more as they stood by the door. ‘You might want to ask Juliet about the team.’

‘Team?’

‘She and Tessa got involved in a quiz team together. Tessa was revising for a quiz a while back. I overheard her and Juliet testing each other on all the bones in the human body. The others on the team might be able to assist with your enquiries.’

‘You don’t know who they are?’

‘Sorry. Not a clue. I know Tessa was pretty keen on the quiz nights. Struck me as unusual – quiz nights aren’t my idea of a fun night out. Thought it strange two young women would think otherwise. Shouldn’t they be out at nightclubs, pubs or out on the town? I certainly was when I was their age. Mind you, nowadays, I give anything for a quiet night in with a decent Burgundy.’

Robyn headed back to reception, hoping to catch Juliet Fallows, but she wasn’t at work. She got details of her address in Hamstall Ridware – just outside Yoxall – and left the clinic, musing on Galloway’s words. It wasn’t that strange for two women to join a local quiz team. Both lived in rural communities. There wasn’t much in the way of nightlife for single women. She should know. She hadn’t had a fun night out or any social life for two years.