The late night phone call from Simon didn’t rouse Ralph from deep slumber. When the mobile chirruped he was in the kitchen making himself a cup of tea so he could pretend he was awake out of his own free will and not because insomnia drove him. He had been, in fact, thinking about the newly appointed DI. Simon Stark. The son of Chief Inspector Stark had returned to Whitechapel—it was all the other coppers talked about. The gossiping would quiet down eventually, though it wouldn’t stop completely. Ralph didn’t pay attention to it, but bits and bobs made it all the way into his consciousness. The fact that they said Simon Stark was a bit on the loopy side. Had no friends. Had spent far too much time at academy because he wanted to complete all the classes. Perhaps he had felt safe there. Sim
