‘Still working on it, Boss.’ Back to pacing again.
‘And while I’ve got you, would you care to explain why I’ve got three officers sitting on their thumbs in Seaton Park, playing I Spy?’
‘Ah...’ The truthprobablywasn’t the best option in this case either. Not unless he wanted Pine to pull the op, because ‘they’re probably bored’ didn’t exactly make his team sound very professional. ‘Well, of course, as you know...Erm...’ Why on earth did Spudgun let them play games on a stakeout? Worse: why did he let senior bloody management catch them doing it?
Surely there had to be a...
Aha!
‘As youknow, Boss: I Spy is a recommended attention-centric activity for ICSOs like this. Boredom leads to a lack of focus – people start missing things – but playingI Spyrequires constant observation and evaluation of your surroundings, which is what they’re actually there to do in the first place. Ma-am.’
That sounded believable, didn’t it?
‘ICSO?’
‘Impromptu Covert Surveillance Operation.’
‘I see...’Her voice took on a vindictive little smile.‘Very convincing. I look forward to you giving a presentation on that at our next Divisional Training Management Meeting.’
Sod...
Logan buried a groan. ‘Yes, Boss.’
‘What happens if Charles MacGarioch doesn’t show up at your ICSO? I haven’t got enough officers as it is, without wasting resources on a red herring.’She huffed out a breath.‘I’mpretty sure half the buggers off on the sick are swinging the lead – pretending they’ve got the plague, so they don’t have to do any sodding work. Well, maybe not half, but a good twenty percent, anyway. The point is: I can’t afford to have three of the officers I do have tied up all night on a no-show.’
‘Like you say: “What choice do we have?” If he turns up and we’re not there to catch him, we’re screwed.’
Logan wandered back towards the car while she considered that.
He’d made it as far as the road, before Pine rejoined the conversation:
‘Sergeant Moore and his team have all been on since zero-seven-hundred. Your op can run till ten, then you need to swap them out for other officers. Everyone’s running on fumes as it is.’
Well, that went better than expected.
‘I think I can—’
‘But you’re only gettingtwonightshift bodies. And I want everyone in for Morning Prayers! That includes you.’
Suppose it was better than nothing.
‘Yes, Boss.’
‘Which means you clock off at ten as well. No one’s handing out Hero Points for running yourself into the ground.’
He checked his watch. Just over an hour to go, before home-time. ‘Thanks, Boss.’
‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a care package to organise...’
She hung up, and Logan sagged for a moment.
Could’ve been worse.
Right: he straightened up and marched across the road.
Tufty jingled the car keys. ‘Where to, Sarge?’
Logan opened the passenger door. ‘ARI – let’s go pay Big Frank’s grandson a visit.’