Helen saw her team and pushed her way through the crowd to find them. They were all uncomfortable at being off the case when there was still so much to do, but they were making the best of it. Mark especially was in good spirits, proudly sporting his slimline tonic like a trophy of sobriety. Still, he looked well on it – his lean face had more colour, his eyes more sparkle. He greeted Helen warmly and seemed keen to include her in the group banter about the nightmare of New Year, etc. He was laying it on a bit thick she thought and on more than one occasion Helen caught a knowing look from Charlie.
‘So who fancies a kiss under the mistletoe?’
Whittaker. He was a different man out of the office. Gone were the anxiety and politicking, replaced by an effortless bonhomie.
‘So many pretty girls, so little time,’ he said casting mock lascivious glances at the assembled females.
‘Been there, done that,’ Helen replied wryly. ‘I wouldn’t write home about it.’
‘Charlie, then,’ Whittaker continued. ‘Make my Christmas.’
Charlie blushed to her roots, unsure how to handle the humorous advances of a slightly tipsy Detective Superintendent.
‘She’s married, sir. Or as good as,’ Helen interjected.
‘I heard she was still living in sin, which must mean there’s a chance,’ Whittaker said unabashed.
‘I’d move on, sir. Plenty more fish in the sea.’
‘Pity. Still you’ve got to know when you’re beaten.’ His eyes settled on the young and attractive DC McAndrew.
‘If you’re desperate, I’d happily oblige,’ Mark threw in. Helen laughed, as did the others, but Whittaker wasn’t amused. He’d never seemed that keen on his male officers – it was the women that interested him.
‘Think I’ll pass. If you’ll excuse me…’
And he headed off to find others to molest. The conversation resumed, DC Sanderson asking everyone where they were spending Christmas. Helen took this as her cue to leave.
She was surprised to find she’d been in the pub for well over an hour. It had actually been quite refreshing – a moment for her brain to shut down – but now as she walked back to the station through the cold night air, her mind was once more full of the case. She wanted to follow up the benzodiazepine link. Where was the killer getting her supply? Could that be a route to her?
Helen returned to the empty incident room and once more continued her hunt for the killer who would not be caught.