There was a woman with him, DS Carpenter. They left the car under the limes, Hall carrying a briefcase, Jacquie a tape recorder. Sheffield was waiting for them in his study. ‘I’ve put you in here.’ He led them into a side office. ‘You shouldn’t be disturbed and as you see, there’s a door of your own, as it were. Tell me, Chief Inspector, do you intend to do anything about the gentlemen of the Press? They’re besieging my gate.’ ‘I know,’ Hall nodded. ‘I just drove through them. Unfortunately, they’re not breaking the law by being there.’ ‘I won’t have them pestering my people.’ ‘There’s no clear law against that, either.’ ‘Privacy, surely?’ Sheffield insisted. ‘It’ll be a cold day in Hell when you can make that one stick. I’ll get someone from the local force to talk to them; at least they might get somewhere with your local rag.’ ‘Er … I’m sorry, you mean you’re not Hampshire CID?’ Sheffield was confused. ‘No, sir.’ Hall set up his briefcase on the desk in front of him.
