The only window, to the rear, was covered by a heavy roller blind. She stopped a few paces in as the chief superintendent closed the door and walked past her to the oversized teak desk in the centre of the room, sitting down in the huge executive chair behind it. Despite the presence of two, more modest seats opposite the desk, Hawkins was not invited to follow. From the corner of her eye, she could see the tall man standing slightly behind and to her left. He made no attempt to introduce himself, and Kirby-Jones didn’t acknowledge his presence. Instead the DCS studied Hawkins, as his wife and kids stared disapprovingly down at her from inside a wall-mounted frame. The day’s events swirled around her head. Should she try to soften the impact? Was Mike’s confession relevant, or even true? She felt sick. Kirby-Jones spoke at last. ‘I’m informed we have a missing officer, Detective. I don’t suppose you have subsequently located John Barclay?’ She shook her head. ‘I see.’ He glanced at the unidentified man, then back at her.
