'Well, keep an eye on him, eh? I know I can rely on your feminine intuition.' He went on to his own office, opened a drawer, and took out the glass of Scotch he'd been drinking when he'd noticed the South Thames van pulling into the car park below his window. He was just finishing it when the door burst open and Hiller came in. 'Well, come on in, Geoff,' said Dalziel pleasantly. 'Have a seat. Getting settled in, are you?' Hiller remained standing. 'I think it's time to lay a few ground rules,' he said. 'First, in front of other officers, I think we should observe protocol. That means "sir" not "Geoff", OK?'

'Fair enough. No Geoffing around,' said Dalziel. 'Secondly, Inspector Stubbs tells me he found you in the room allocated to us by your man Pascoe.' 'Just checking you had everything you need, Geoff. Pascoe's a good lad but a bit rough at the edges. He might have overlooked a few of the refinements.' 'I found Mr Pascoe very helpful and obliging,' said Hiller. 'But I want to make it clear that my inquiry room, especially now I've got my equipment here, is off-limits to all Mid-Yorkshire staff. That includes you, Andy. And especially it includes that moron, Hector. Is he brain- damaged or what?' 'Hector?

He's reckoned to be one of our high fliers.' 'He'll fly high if he comes within kicking distance of my boot,' said Hiller. A joke, thought Dalziel. Adolf had really come a long way. 'That all, is it?' he inquired politely. 'Just one more thing. While I was talking to Mrs Tallantire yesterday, she let slip that you'd been asking her about Wally's personal papers.' 'Oh aye? Then she'll have told you that there weren't any,' said Dalziel. 'Yes, that's what she said you said,' replied Hiller. 'You're not implying I'd try to hide summat as important as that?' said Dalziel indignantly. 'I'm implying nothing.

I'm saying loud and clear that if I get any proof that you're attempting to interfere with or obstruct my inquiry in any way, I'll bury you, Andy.' 'You'd need to scratch a big hole, Geoff,' said Dalziel, his fingers mining his groin as if in illustration.