rush,’ Matthews said. ‘You’ll be crashing in so many hours, mate.’ He gestured to the coffee. When Elias failed to acknowledge him, Matthews pushed his own cup to one side and folded his arms on the table. ‘She really isn’t that bad.’
Elias scoffed and shook his head in disagreement. ‘Why do you assume I have a problem with Claire?’
Matthews cocked an eyebrow. ‘Written on your face.’
‘Don’t take the piss.’
Matthews held up his hands. ‘I’m serious, mate, she’s just testing you. She likes to see how tough you are, and no offence, but you’re kinda falling at the first hurdle.’
Elias was having none of it. ‘I grew up in Brixton, mate. I don’t have to prove I’m tough enough. I’ve nothing to prove to her and my credentials speak for themselves. I’m not an idiot.’
Matthews sat back in his chair. ‘Look, I know she’s hard to get along with at first, but everyone agrees once they get to know her… Claire wouldn’t be Claire if she was any different.’
‘I have no intentions of getting to know her on a personal level.’
Matthews chewed his bottom lip, taking in the new DS carefully.
Elias was in his mid-thirties, dressed smartly, with fashionably messy hair that was streaked with blonde highlights.
A pair of large hazel-coloured eyes looked back at Matthews, with a steely edge to them.
‘You got a problem or something, working under a woman?’
Elias practically scowled. ‘No.’
Matthews raised his eyebrows. ‘You sure about that, mate?’ Silence hung heavy in the air. ‘’Cos if it’s a gender thing–’
‘It’s not.’
‘It’s pretty old-school, thinking like that.’
‘I respect women officers… good ones.’
‘DCI Winters not good enough?’
Elias paused, being careful. ‘I never said that.’
‘But?’
‘But… she does have a reputation.’
Matthews saw a little of himself in the new recruit, back when he first started his career as a PC. He also recalled his first impression of Claire when he started in CID. It would be hypocritical of him to be completely hard on Elias for his initial thoughts on their Guv. He ran his hand back through his brown hair and said, ‘You definitely won’t last five minutes with that attitude. She’ll eat you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.’
‘Who’s eating who for what now?’ asked Stefan, as he approached the table.
‘Claire,’ said Matthews, not taking his eyes from Elias.
‘Ah. He’s having reservations about his transfer.’
‘Yep.’
‘To be expected, I guess.’
‘We’ve all been through it.’
‘Yeah, I remember it well.’
‘You know I am sitting right here,’ Elias interjected. ‘You needn’t talk as if I wasn’t.’
Exchanging glances with Matthews, Stefan looked apologetic.
‘You’re right. Sorry, it was meant as a joke,’ he said, taking a seat beside Matthews. ‘Guv’s called a team brief in twenty minutes; see where we are with the body in the lake.’ He glanced at Elias. ‘You ever see anything like it before?’
Elias shook his head, but avoided Stefan’s eyes. ‘Saw my fair share of depravity, but this has a different feel to it.’
Stefan eyed Elias closely, noted his pale drawn face, and then glanced at the untouched food in front of him.
‘Did Claire actually have the power to make you lose your appetite as well?’ Stefan asked. Elias glanced up, and then looked at Matthews, who hid a smile in his coffee cup. He returned his gaze to Stefan and glowered.
‘Hey, I’m being serious,’ Stefan said, jabbing Matthews hard in the ribs. ‘Ignore him. He’s just glad Claire’s taken the heat off him in favour of you.’
‘That’s not fair, Fletch.’
‘Come off it, you love the banter, you practically ask for it,’ he said, winking at Elias. Matthews ignored him and picked up the newspaper on the table.
Stefan looked at Elias and thought he caught a hint of a smile.
‘You gonna eat that?’ Stefan pointed his fork at the full plate. Elias shrugged, then shook his head, pushed the plate aside and sipped his coffee.
Stefan sat back in his chair. ‘Did she give you the “no first name” spiel?’ Elias remained silent. ‘She does give that speech to everyone.’
Elias sat back in his chair, jutted out his chin in defiance. ‘You think I’m taking myself too seriously.’ It was a statement rather than a question.
‘Well you said it,’ Matthews quipped.
‘Ignore him,’ said Stefan. ‘Best thing you can do is not take Claire’s attempts to destroy you seriously. She’s as harmless as a kitten really.’
‘As far as harmless sharp-clawed kittens go,’ Matthews added, nose still buried in the newspaper. Stefan rolled his eyes at him.
‘Cut her some slack. She’s really been through it in the last year. What with all that uncertainty with her father and… ’
He trailed off when he saw he’d piqued Elias’s interest.
‘She’s tough,’ he said at length, ‘but she’s good. I’d trust her with my life, Crest. You just got to earn her trust and respect.’
Elias sat forward and looked stern again, his hands now clasped in front of him on the table. ‘You know respect works both ways, right?’
Stefan’s eyes narrowed, silently questioning.
‘I mean, I can see you’re her biggest fan n’ all that but I don’t need to know the inner workings inside her head. I’ll deal with her in my own way.’
There was a long pause as the two men stared at each other. Stefan raked his fingers through his floppy light brown hair, trying to work Elias out. Realising he might have spoken too harshly, Elias added, ‘Thanks, though… for the advice.’
He stood, drained the last dregs of his coffee and set the cup back down onto the table with a bang. ‘Team briefing now, yes?’ he said as he left.
Stefan felt Matthews looking at him.
‘Are
