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Nathan felt like a teacher presiding over a classroom of delinquents as he waited for the briefing room to fall silent. He could have shouted the officers who filled the room into silence, but he chose to wait, using the time to finish off the coffee Burke had made him.
“Okay, settle down,” he said when he reached the bottom of his mug and the noise persisted. “Come on, you’ve had enough time to play, it’s time for work. Townsend, don’t think I can’t see you playing on your phone.” That comment produced a few chuckles and a flush of embarrassment from the constable who had been singled out.
It was another minute or so before silence finally settled over the room and all eyes focused on Nathan. He was surprised that Collins had not put in an appearance to see what all the noise was ab
