Lestrade sat at his desk, aware that what he was doing went against everything his oath to uphold the law meant, yet he wasn't going to let something like that bother him as he entered each name from Barrymore's list into HOLMES.
"Sir, can you spare me a moment?" Sally Donovan appeared in the doorway of the office, a sheaf of papers in her hand.
Unobtrusively Lestrade switched screens and covered the papers on his desk.
"Sure, anything's better than completing this month's stats for the Chief Constable to moan about." He smiled, and indicated the seat opposite him. "What's up?"
"We've had word that Barrymore is going to make a move on Openshaw's patch." She said quietly. "A very reliable informant overheard a couple of Barrymore's lieutenants."
Sally was busy reading from her notes, and didn't notice the guarded expression that flitted over the Detective Inspector's face.
"Who else knows about this?"
"Only DI Gregson, he brought it to me because he knew we've been working the Sholto case." Glancing up she added "If it's true, then he's attempting to join his areas."
Lestrade nodded "By adding WC1 to his collection."
Crossing to the wall map he looked at the disputed area.
"If he succeeds he'll have one hell of an area."
Sally sighed wearily. "Not just big, the biggest."
A/N: HOLMES – Home Office Large Major Enquiry System.