The Graveyard Shift

A man had moved from the shadows and stood beside the staff entrance lighting a cigarette. Brady recognized Chuck Lazer at once, and also remembered that the American was employed as a pianist at the club.

As the staff door closed on Lazer, Brady leaned back again, shivering as a cold wind moved along the alley, lifting the skirts of his raincoat.

You and the character in the blue coat and fancy cap were standing at the kerb when I came round the corner. Who is he?”

“A copper, Ben. Detective Sergeant.” Lazer searched his memory. “Miller. That’s it—Miller.”

“You’re joking,” Garvald said. “I’ve never seen a peeler that looked like him before. What did he want?”

“You, Ben,” Lazer said.

with his small triumph. As the door closed, Grant lit another cigarette and walked to the window.

A good man

any constable who successfully completed the one year Special Course at the Police College at Bramshill House had to be promoted substantive sergeant immediately on returning to his force, a source of much bitterness to long-serving police officers who had either come up the hard way or were still awaiting promotion