‘Okay, okay – guilty as charged,’ Maya grinned sheepishly, ‘it’s nice to know that what happens at a crime scene doesn’t stay there. I’ll get you back, Makin, don’t you worry.’
‘You’ve got to be able to laugh at yourself in this job.’ Amanda, the office administrator gave her a thumbs up.
‘Yeah, good job you’re black so we can’t tell you’re blushing.’ Andy Carr’s caustic remark stung like a slap. A sudden hush fell on the office and the earlier merriment was replaced with a heavy, uncomfortable silence.
‘You’re a dick at times, Andy, do you know that?’ Chris shook his head with disgust.
‘Why? What’s wrong with saying that? She is black, or half-caste or mixed race or whatever the phrase is today. Does this mean we have to start with all that political correctness bollocks now?’ Andy pouted like a petulant child.
He was a good-looking man in his forties, tall and rugged with salt-and-pepper wavy hair.
The click of heels announced another presence in the office. ‘Congratulations, Mr Carr, you have just won yourself a place on the next diversity awareness course.’ The tone of voice was pure steel. ‘If anybody else feels they would benefit from going on it, then let Amanda know so she can email human resources and book you on. If you don’t and I hear similar comments in the future, you can look forward to being issued with a formal warning.’
Although she was only short in stature with a trim figure, Kym Lawson, the senior SOCO, had a reputation for being formidable when needed. Her sudden presence in the office caused everyone to sit up and take notice.
She was an attractive woman with large, wide brown eyes. Her dark-brown hair was styled in an elegant pixie cut. She was the kind of woman whose face lit up whenever she smiled, but when she frowned her dark eyes almost looked as if a thundercloud was gathering. That was exactly how she looked now as she glared at Andy, making no effort to disguise the look of sheer contempt on her face.
‘Now then, either our local criminals have gone on holiday overnight and not been burgling, or you lot are too busy kicking the arse out of brew time and need to get yourself out to your jobs. So, let’s go!’ Kym clapped her hands together, a common trait of hers and an exceedingly unpopular one.
‘Maya, pop in my office when you’ve got yourself settled in. I’d like a word, please.’ Kym turned on her heel and headed into the side room, leaving a trail of perfume and chastened faces in her wake.
The others gathered their coats, radios, and van keys before scuttling out of the office to their respective crime scenes. Maya gathered her belongings together before logging onto the computer so she could book herself on duty and see what jobs had either come in or been left for her to pick up as part of her mid-morning shift.
‘Are you okay, love?’ asked Amanda when there were just the two of them left in the office. A retired police officer who had completed her thirty years’ service and then, not ready to retire completely, had returned to the force as a civilian in the role of administrator. Amanda was the fount of all knowledge and always ready with an encouraging word and a friendly ear when the job got a bit too much. Tall with greying hair which she still habitually kept tied in a regimented police bun, she had an open and kind face.
‘Yeah, I’m fine, thanks,’ Maya replied, ‘I don’t mind a bit of office banter, I know it’s all meant in good humour.’
‘Do you mean Chris or Andy?’ Amanda asked with a raised eyebrow.
‘Oh, definitely Chris. I’ve no time for people like Andy. I’ve learnt over the years to just ignore ignorant racist bastards like him.’ Maya gave a sardonic laugh. ‘Being mixed-race means I’m either too white or too dark, depending on who you listen to. Never quite fitting in, you know?’
Amanda smiled. ‘I have a feeling you’ll fit in here just fine. Go and see what Kym wants and then come and tell me all about the body yesterday.’
Maya made tea then popped her head around Kym’s door.
‘Okay to come in?’ she asked.
‘Yes. Let me just finish reading this email but sit yourself down. Just put those drinks down and pull the door shut.’
Maya suddenly felt nervous as she pulled the office door to, worried that she may be in trouble as Kym usually operated an open-door policy. She sat herself opposite Kym and watched anxiously as her supervisor pored over the computer screen in front of her, a slight frown puckering at her brow. She suddenly felt a squeeze of dread in the pit of her stomach. Why was she here? Had she been found out? She began to gnaw at her cuticles; a typical sign that she was beginning to panic.
‘Thanks for the brew.’ Kym turned to look at Maya. ‘So, first things first, tell me about yesterday.’
Maya paused, wondering if she could relax. Surely if Kym had discovered the truth and was going to have it out with her, she wouldn’t be asking so casually about yesterday. She dropped her hand back into her lap.
‘It went well, despite the really obvious misunderstanding.’
Kym gave a sudden light-hearted laugh which surprised Maya. ‘Don’t worry. I can see how you came about your assumption. The pressure was on from both Doctor Granger and DI Redford to get the body processed as soon as possible. Obviously as a result it meant us having to send you off to a scene half-cock without knowing all the facts. Bit of a learning curve for us all there. Other than that, how was it – any problems?’
‘No, none at all. It’s a relief to have my first death over and done with. I think I coped okay and feel fine about it.’
