She leaned forward and press the button on her phone. ‘Louise? Send in DCI Harrison, please.’
Kay heard Sharp swear under his breath, and raised her eyebrow.
He shook his head, and they both stood as the door opened and a man entered the room, his height leaving scant room as he ducked instinctively under the door frame.
‘DS Hunter, this is Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harrison. Sharp, I believe you and Harrison know each other?’
‘We’ve met before.’
Greensmith waited until the introductions were complete, and then locked her computer screen and picked up her mobile phone from her desk.
‘I’ll leave it to the three of you to work out the arrangements. Keep it civil. I want my office back in one piece when I return in thirty minutes.’
Kay moved back to her chair but didn’t sit down as the door closed behind Greensmith. Instead, she watched with interest as Sharp stood to one side to let Harrison cross to the window.
The tension between the two men was palpable, and she wondered what the history was between them. It was evident the outcome had left each with unresolved issues.
Harrison turned to face them, his hands clasped behind his back and a tight smile on his face.
‘Well, Sharp, I didn’t think our paths would cross again. Not like this.’
‘You’re looking well, Simon. How’s Gravesend suiting you?’
Harrison grimaced, but recovered quickly. ‘It gives me scope to monitor the bigger issues in Kent. I much prefer being involved on the frontline though.’
‘We understand your SOCU team might want some assistance in putting together a case against Jozef Demiri,’ said Kay.
Harrison turned his attention to her, his eyes sparkling.
‘I’ve already seconded a detective sergeant from Maidstone police station to work on this case with me.’
‘Oh. Who?’
‘Jake O’Reilly.’
Kay managed to bite back the surprised outburst that threatened to escape her lips.
O’Reilly had a tenuous record at best when it came to his workload, and she reminded herself the DS still hadn’t found out who had attacked Gavin Piper in the spring, leaving the younger detective in hospital with broken ribs.
She hadn’t broached the subject before, reluctant because she blamed herself for the attack on Gavin. She had long suspected it had been a warning to her to drop her own enquiries into Demiri’s business, and she had no wish to endanger her colleagues further.
She dug her nails into her palms.
‘Kay’s got a point,’ said Sharp. ‘My team has a better knowledge of the immediate vicinity and Demiri’s known locations. We’ve already interviewed him in relation to the body of the woman found in a vehicle involved in an accident three nights ago, and we’re waiting to interview the driver. We’ve got the manpower you’re going to need and we’re already mobilised.’
‘I can work alongside O’Reilly to bring him up to speed with our investigation to date,’ Kay added.
Harrison smirked. ‘I don’t think that’s necessary, Hunter.’
‘Why not? I’ve worked with the Major Crimes Unit for five years. I’ve been seconded to SOCU before, and I’ve undergone adequate training. I’m more than capable. Besides, you could say I’ve got a vested interest in how this all turns out, haven’t I, guv?’
‘I’m not sure what the Chief Super will have to say about this.’
Kay smiled, and folded her arms. ‘Well, we could wait until she comes back and ask her?’
‘Or you could phone her,’ said Sharp. ‘She seemed to know where to find you at a moment’s notice, so I’m presuming you have her mobile number?’
Harrison’s eyes narrowed, and he stalked towards the door. ‘Wait here.’
Sharp leaned forward and lowered his voice as the door closed quietly behind the DCI. ‘You don’t have to do this, Kay. You know how dangerous Demiri is.’ He held up a hand to silence her. ‘I’m not denying your capabilities. I am questioning the sense in having you so close to someone who’s already proved he’s not above breaking into your house and possibly attacking your colleague in an attempt to stop you pursuing him.’
‘I want this,’ said Kay. ‘For my daughter, and everything else. I want justice.’
She turned her attention at a polite cough from Harrison, who stood in the doorway.
He raised an eyebrow at her and Sharp, then his lips thinned into a brief semblance of a smile.
‘I can’t say I’m entirely surprised by your demands, Hunter. I always did get the impression you were obsessive in your pursuit of Demiri.’
Kay swallowed, but remained silent as he turned his attention to Sharp.
‘Your team can remain on the investigation into the woman’s death,’ he said. ‘And, you’ll be seconded to me until we see Demiri charged.’
‘Thank you,’ Kay breathed.
Harrison’s top lip curled. ‘There won’t be another chance if you change your mind, Hunter. We’re going after him. Now.’
Chapter Twenty
‘Are you going to tell us who the man in the hospital is?’
Simon Harrison folded his arms across his chest. ‘Daniel Stokes is the name Demiri knows him by.’
‘What do you mean?’
The man sighed, and contemplated his fingernails. ‘I suppose it doesn’t matter now if you know his name. He won’t be working undercover anymore, and we’re probably going to have to construct a new identity for him after this latest debacle. His real name is Gareth Jenkins. He’s a detective sergeant who’s been working undercover in Demiri’s organisation for the past two years. A highly valuable asset, too it must be said.’
‘Who’s the dead girl? Do you know?’ asked Sharp.
‘Gareth would have to confirm, but I strongly suspect from looking at the photographs it’s an illegal entrant from Romania called Katya.’
‘It’s not an “it”, it’s “she”,’ said Kay. ‘How do you know her name?’
‘We’ve been monitoring Demiri, as I said, for two years now. When we started the operation, we believed him to be responsible for a large amount of drugs being smuggled into the country via the south Kent coastline. Gareth’s remit was
