The two men jumped to their feet, collected the women’s addresses from Karen and raced out of the room.
After the two members of her team left, Katy went back to her office and called Patti to gee her up with the results.
“You read my mind. I was just about to ring you. I’ve got one report I need to reread. Give me five minutes to do that. I’ll call you back soon.”
Katy was left staring at the phone after Patti had hung up. “Great, that told me then. Hurry up, Patti. I sense things are going to come together quickly and I need to be prepared.”
Charlie appeared in the doorway, her brow wrinkled into a frown. “Were you just talking to yourself?”
Katy bared her teeth in an awkward smile. “You might have overheard something like that. What’s up?”
“I think I’ve got a hit on the vehicle.”
“The lorry?”
Charlie nodded.
“Damn, I’m waiting for Patti to get back to me. Hang fire. Get all the evidence together, see if you can trace the vehicle et cetera. I’ll be with you soon.”
Charlie turned and walked away, but Katy called her back. She poked her head around the door again.
“Well done, Charlie, this is just the news we’ve been hoping for.”
“Thought you might say that.”
Her phone rang, and she snatched it up. “DI Katy Foster. How—”
“Cut the rest of the crap, it’s me. Right, I have to ask if you’re sitting down before I begin.”
“Yes, sounds ominous. Give it to me.”
“The reports are in, as you know, and I have to say some of them make interesting reading.”
“Are you going to tell me what that is or keep me dangling?”
“Ooo…get you, Mrs Knickers-in-a-Twist.”
“My knickers are just fine, thank you. Come on, Patti, I’m dying to frigging know what you’re talking about.”
“All righty, then. Hold on tight. The weapon, the gun that was used on Thatcham, or more to the point, the bullets we extracted from his body have matched a weapon on our system.”
“Wow, okay. So the gun has been used during another crime. Do we know which one?”
“We do. Remember a few years ago there was a shootout with a couple of gangs in East London? Several fatalities, and I believe the rest of them were hauled in and banged up for their sins.”
“Of course I remember. You’re telling me we possibly missed a weapon?”
“Nope. What I’m telling you is that a weapon that was supposed to be locked away in your evidence room has somehow found its way back on the street again and into the hands of these thugs.”
“Fuck, are you serious? How the hell does something like that happen?”
“You tell me,” Patti said, her tone as high-pitched as Katy’s.
Katy sighed, puffed out her cheeks and scratched her neck. “I need to get my hands on those reports and quickly, Patti. The chief will need to be informed of this. Jesus, we could be talking about a bent copper in our midst, at least, and possible police corruption, at most. Fuck, why me? Why did this jeffing thing have to land on my sodding desk?”
“Are you all right?”
“Hardly. My whole working world has just imploded before my very eyes. Why couldn’t this have happened a few months ago when Lorne was bloody here? She could have dealt with the copper involved at the end of her career and ridden off into the sunset not giving two hoots about the frigging consequences. But no, it has to land on my sodding desk, opening me up for major effing flack. Sod it! I know that sounds selfish but…”
“It does not. It sounds like you’re watching your back, which you always have to do being a copper. And yes, run it past Roberts, it’ll ease the pressure on you. I’ll send the reports through now. Good luck, Katy. You know I’m always around if you need moral support.”
“Thanks, on both counts, Patti. Speak soon, I have things to do and people to see.”
She ended the call and rushed out of the office. “Karen, will you get Graham and Stephen on the phone for me in a conference call? I have something major to tell them before they get to their locations.”
“Will do.”
A few seconds later, Karen motioned for Katy to join her. “Here’s the boss now, guys.”
“Graham and Stephen, I’ve just had word from the forensics that the weapon used on board the boat was obtained illegally.”
“Not surprising, guv, considering who we’re dealing with,” Graham replied.
“Stop interrupting and let me damn well finish, man. This is important. The gun, it would appear, had been acquired from the secure evidence room at this station. Now, do you understand why I’m warning you?”
“Shit! How is that possible?” Graham asked.
“I don’t know. There are too many connotations to go through right now. Just be careful out there.”
“Thanks for the warning, guv. We’ll ensure we’re vigilant at all times,” Stephen assured her.
Graham concurred. Katy ended the call and noted all the rest of the team’s horrified expressions.
“Shit! Are you serious?” Charlie was the first to find her voice.
“Deadly. I need to run this past the chief, if only to cover our backs. I’ll be right back.”
Trisha smiled the second Katy entered the room.
“Can I see him? It’s an emergency,” Katy said, grimly. The speed at which the adrenaline was pumping through her system was making her feel a little giddy.
“Sure, let me see for you.” Trisha left her desk, knocked on her boss’s door and entered the room. She reappeared within a few seconds and gestured for Katy to come in.
“Sorry to interrupt, sir. I have something very important that I need to discuss with you ASAP.”
“Thanks, Trisha, that’ll be all.” Roberts dismissed his secretary and pointed at the chair opposite him. “Take a seat, Katy. What’s so important?”
“Jesus, I don’t know where to start. My head feels like it’s been through ten rounds with Mike Tyson and is reverberating back and forth.”
“Take a breath and start at the beginning.”
“I
