‘Glad you could join us.’ Divisional Commissaire Francois Massin had already begun the briefing in the main office by the time Rocco arrived. If the senior officer was being ironic, he managed to hide it behind his customarily cold expression. Assembled in the room were the duty officers of the day and a collection of uniforms about to go on patrol in and beyond the town, notebooks poised. A few eyes turned Rocco’s way, newcomers surprised by his size and sombre clothing. Standing at two metres, with the shoulders of a rugby forward and a strong, confident gaze under a short scrub of black hair, he was a full head taller than anyone else and filled the room with his presence.

He nodded in turn at Massin’s deputy, Commissaire Perronnet, and Captain Eric Canet — a likeable officer he’d met a few times — and, lounging by the door sipping at a mug of coffee, the muscular figure of Rene Desmoulins, one of the detectives. The latter grinned and raised his mug in greeting.

Rocco wondered what was so important that had made Massin demand his attendance today in particular.

As if sensing the question, Massin waved a collection of papers at the room in general, and pointed to a similar stack on a nearby desk. ‘This is the latest alerts bulletin from headquarters. Take a copy each and read it. Among other items it tells us that we are shortly to be joined by a new liaison officer, details to follow in due course. It also advises that Amiens and the north is being viewed by incoming North Africans as an attractive place to live. Increased numbers have been noted making their way out of the cities looking for work in the new industrialised zones.