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once. Miller could hear the sounds of traffic in the background.
    â€œAll right,” said Miller, careful not to use Pattimore’s name within Brough’s earshot. “Chief wants you to stop what you’m doing and come up to the zoo. All hands on deck kind of thing.”
    â€œRight you are. Might be a few minutes. Benny’s in the boozer.”
    â€œHe’s what?”
    â€œOfficially, he’s checking the bins behind the kitchen. From the vantage point of the bar, of course.”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œSee you in a bit.”
    â€œT’ra.”
    Miller put her phone away. Wheeler was eyeballing her with an eyebrow raised in enquiry.
    â€œThey’re on their way, Chief.”
    â€œWith or without the furry fucker?”
    â€œWithout, I expect.”
    â€œFucking typical,” said Wheeler. Her phone buzzed. It was Superintendent Ball. He could fuck off.

Chapter Five
    But there was no evading Superintendent Ball forever. When Chief Inspector Wheeler got back to Serious, he pounced. He bore down on Wheeler, backing her into his office. He kept himself between her and the door. A brave thing to do.
    â€œNot now, Kevin. I’ve got a lot on my plate.”
    â€œKaren, we can’t put this off indefinitely. We have to have The Talk.”
    Wheeler groaned. “All right. When a mommy and a daddy love each other very much, they fuck each other’s brains out.”
    â€œNot that talk.”
    â€œKevin, I’m up to my fucking eyes in it - and don’t you say a fucking peep about that not being very deep, you heightist bastard.”
    Superintendent Ball could feel himself shrinking away, try as he might to stand his ground. Wheeler could be like a cornered animal when stressed. And also when she wasn’t stressed, come to think of it.
    â€œTwo murders, Kevin.” She showed him the corresponding number of fingers as an illustration. “Two fucking murders.”
    â€œYes, I know it’s perhaps not the optimum moment-”
    â€œToo cocking right it’s not the opti-fucking moment.” Wheeler’s chest was heaving, placing strain on the silver buttons of her uniform. “There’s never going to be a right time.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” said Ball, and he meant it. “I’ll leave it with you until the end of the week. And best of luck with the investigation.”
    He left. Wheeler let out a torrent of swearwords and kicked the furniture.
    How could she contemplate losing one - or even two - members of her team? It was unthinkable.
    But the great god Funding Cuts demanded his sacrifice.
    Someone was for the chop and it fell to Wheeler to draw the dotted line around that someone’s neck.
    She ran her hand over her short and spiky hair as her temper abated. And then flared up again.
    â€œThis isn’t my fucking office!” she snarled.
    ***
    â€œUm...”
    Saba, the receptionist at Dedley Council House, spoke into her headset. “Councillor Woolton? There’s some people to see you.”
    The leader of Dedley Council’s voice could be heard distinctly through the receptionist’s headphones. The poor girl cringed with embarrassment.
    â€œTell them to piss off,” Councillor Woolton barked.
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t do that, sir.”
    â€œHell’s afire! Why not?”
    â€œUm, they’re actually like police officers or something.”
    â€œDetectives,” interjected Brough, not wishing to be lumped in with his colleagues in uniform.
    â€œLike detectives,” Saba amended her response.
    â€œAnd what the blinking blue fuck do they want with me? Can’t Frank handle this?”
    â€œFrank’s not here,” said Saba, “and they asked for you pacifically.”
    Brough cringed visibly.
    â€œOh, for fuck’s sake! Send them up - No! I’ll come down; easier to get shot of them that way.”
    There was a click as Woolton