For Our Sins (The Inspector McLean Series) by James Oswald

Author:James Oswald [Oswald, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2024-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

29

Janie couldn’t remember the last time she’d been out to the pub to celebrate a successful conclusion to an investigation. Time was the whole team would troop down to the local and DI McLean or DCI Ritchie would stick a couple of hundred quid behind the bar for them all to have a drink, blow off steam, let go after days, weeks, sometimes months of high stress and higher stakes.

Of course, this wasn’t one of her investigations being celebrated, even if she’d had a fairly pivotal role in cracking the case. Her involvement had been by accident more than design, but who was complaining? Well, to be fair, there were a few sour faces among the Vice team, but not their leader.

‘There she is: the woman of the hour.’ DCI Dexter spotted Janie as she stepped into the crowded pub, gestured her and DC Bryant over. The waves didn’t quite part to grant them access, but enough of a path cleared that they could make it to the bar.

‘What’s your poison?’ Dexter shouted over the hubbub. Janie settled on a glass of wine, Bryant a rum and coke.

‘Couple of your team already here.’ Dexter nodded towards the tables in the far corner as she handed over the drinks. Janie caught sight of DCs Stringer and Mitchell deep in conversation. Was their relationship on again? She thought it had come to nothing, which had been a relief at the time as she hadn’t wanted the hassle of reassigning one of them to another team. She was surprised to see another figure sitting next to them. Cerys Powell, the mortuary assistant, appeared to be laughing at some joke Stringer had just made. Then again, the mortuary was as close to this pub as the police station, so it made sense she might pop in here for a drink after work.

‘I’m away for a fag,’ Dexter said, her cigarette packet already in hand. ‘Don’t either of you run off, now. I’ve a speech prepared and everything.’

Janie winced. She wasn’t one to crave the limelight, and while it was nice to be valued and praised, she’d have been as happy heading home for a pizza and a glass of slightly better wine than the one she’d been given. On the other hand, this was team building, wasn’t it. All part of the job.

‘Let’s go see what Jay and Cass are up to,’ she said to Bryant as the gap Dexter had left at the bar was immediately filled by another body. Bryant gave her a thumbs up, mouth too busy with the straw in her drink to say anything. She set off in the direction of the tables, and Janie followed, letting the taller woman forge the path through the throng.

She was almost there when a hand landed on her shoulder, firm grip turning her around so swiftly she spilled her wine. An instant of anger was washed away when she saw who had dared to accost her. Detective Superintendent Pete Nelson’s face was flushed, as if he’d been at the bar far longer than anyone else.

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