Women of the Strike and Ellacott Detective Agency
Strike stroked his chin, eyes narrowed. ‘You know, women can be useful in certain situations.’ ‘Thanks,’ said Robin.
The Hallmarked Man, Robert Galbraith
Strike almost smiled for the first time since waking.
Robin Ellacott, partner in the ‘Strike and Ellacott Detective Agency’, is a prime mover in all the high-profile mysteries the detectives investigate, but she is not the only woman who keeps the wheels of the agency turning. In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’re taking a look at three other women who have come to work at Denmark Street; Office Manager Pat Chauncey, subcontractor Michelle ‘Midge’ Greenstreet, and the latest recruit, ex-Met officer, Kim Cochran.
Pat Chauncey
‘—you were the one who offered her the job,’ Robin finished firmly.
Troubled Blood, Robert Galbraith
‘Dunno what I was bloody thinking,’ muttered Strike, flicking ash out of the window.
The agency hires Patricia Chauncey as office manager after the investigation into the Chiswell family ends (Lethal White), and before the beginning of the case of missing doctor Margot Bamborough (Troubled Blood). She is a thin woman with a deeply lined face and implausibly jet-black hair, who vapes continually in the office. Her voice is so deep and rasping that she is often mistaken for Strike on the phone. She’s also very good at her job and Robin is keen to keep her after a series of disappointing temps.
Strike and Pat’s relationship though is combative from the start. Robin is used to Strike’s intermittent bouts of moodiness and prone to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially when she suspects he is in pain, but Pat has no compunction about snapping ‘Would a “thanks” kill you?’ if Strike shows insufficient gratitude when she passes him his phone messages. She also evidently feels none of the reverence some of their temps have displayed towards the now famous detective. As well as being good at her job though, Pat has a softer side. When Strike is laid up with the flu over Christmas, Pat brings his presents up to the flat and fetches him chicken soup (Troubled Blood).
It’s not until Robin calls Strike out on his rude behaviour that he starts making a conscious effort to be more polite. Surprised to hear him thanking her for her work at the end of the day, Pat notes, tellingly, that people tend to make assumptions based on looks, and Strike reminds her of her first husband.
‘Stop bloody crying, you’re not fired. Where’m I going to get another manager like you?’
The Running Grave, Robert Galbraith
Pat and Strike are getting on much better by the time the detectives begin to investigate the death of Edie Ledwell (The Ink Black Heart), and her value to the agency is dramatically underlined when she saves Strike’s life and her own from a parcel bomb. She dashes into the inner office and slams the door behind her as she hears the telltale hiss, protecting them from the explosion which brings down half the roof. Her observation skills — she remembers details of the package, including the postmark — impress the CID officers who interview her in the aftermath. In the process, the partners learn her uncle was killed by an IRA bomb in Woolwich in 1974, and when Strike insists on giving her a lift home, her eyes fill with tears.
When the agency is under strain, with Strike incapacitated during one of their busiest times, she also provides moral boosting fruitcake.
Dealing with the machinations of a dubious subcontractor led to revelations about Pat during the investigation into the Universal Humanitarian Church (The Running Grave), which she’s afraid will get her fired, but Strike knows her value now. After Robin escapes her dangerous stint undercover, Strike and Robin meet Pat’s husband, Dennis, when she volunteers to look after a vulnerable pair who have fled the cult at their home. Pat’s extended family rally round to help, and Dennis’s ability to do magic tricks help loosen the hold of the cult on its vulnerable ex-member.
As the agency launch into the identification of the body found in the vault of Ramsay Silver (The Hallmarked Man), Pat continues to bake. Though Strike is trying to avoid mention of his birthday, and his age, Pat produces an iced cake from a Princess Diana tin, and sticks in two candles, a four and a two. ‘Wasn’t going to put the whole lot on,’ she tells Strike. ‘Fire hazard.’
Michelle ‘Midge’ Greenstreet
‘Well, I wouldn’t have advised those tactics, but you got excellent results. Well done.’
The Ink Black Heart, Robert Galbraith
When Midge had hung up, Strike heaved a long sigh of relief.
Strike and Robin learn about Michelle ‘Midge’ Greenstreet from their police contact Vanessa Ekwensi, not long after subcontractor Saul Morris leaves their employ with a broken nose (Troubled Blood). She starts work for them soon after the case of missing doctor Margot Bamborough is sensationally solved.
Midge is a Mancunian ex-policewoman, tall, lean and very fit, with slicked-back dark hair and clear grey eyes. Robin likes her directness, and the fact that she doesn’t seem to hold herself superior to Robin, who, alone at the agency, isn’t ex-police or military. At leaving drinks for subcontractor Andy Hutchins, Midge confides to Robin she wanted to leave Manchester after a bad break-up with her girlfriend Beth. Beth, Midge tells Robin, was convinced that she was an undiscovered genius, and left it to Midge to pay her bills even while she was working on her dating profile.
As the agency becomes involved in the investigation into the death of artist Edie Ledwell (The Ink Black Heart), Midge tells Robin that her ex was a huge fan of the cartoon Ledwell created with her partner, Josh Blay. Robin sees her chance, and gains access to the fan site run by Ledwell’s online nemesis, Anomie, using Beth’s login details.
Midge quickly becomes a crucial member of the team at a time when the agency’s resources are stretched to breaking point. As the hunt for Anomie intensifies, it’s Midge who finds crucial evidence in another case – the divorce of Strike’s ex-Charlotte Campbell from Jago Ross – and she overhears a conversation which breaks open another case at the champagne and caviar bar in Harrods. When Strike questions the expense, she pushes back: ‘Fooking hell, Strike, I was sitting at a caviar bar – what were I going to do, ask if they could do me a pork pie?’
While Robin is undercover at the base of the Universal Humanitarian Church (The Running Grave), Midge is part of the team trying to find out who is harassing actress Tasha Mayo. It’s clear she’s developing feeling for the actress and when Strike challenges her this time, she reacts badly, reminding Strike of the trouble he’s caused for the agency by getting involved with lawyer Bijou Watkins.
‘I knew another lesbian, once,’ said Pat.
The Running Grave, Robert Galbraith
‘Yeah?’ said Strike, as the kettle lid began to rattle. ‘Did she bitch behind her boss’s back, as well?’
‘No,’ said Pat. ‘She was the boss. Nice woman. People took her for hard as nails, but she was soft underneath. Very kind when I had my divorce.’
‘Is this a thinly veiled suggestion I should grovel for hurting Midge’s feelings?’
Strike takes his time, but before Robin returns from the Universal Humanitarian Church, he has admitted to Midge he might have overreacted, and Midge apologises for challenging him about ‘the lawyer with the fake tits’. Tasha Mayo has also insisted that Midge return to the team protecting her. Then, by the end of the investigation, Tasha is in a position to do a huge favour for the agency in their struggle with the UHC.
‘I’ve never found her slapdash,’ said Strike, which was true, though he’d sometimes had reason to think her insubordinate.
The Hallmarked Man, Robert Galbraith
Midge defends Robin from reporters gathered outside the offices in the wake of the UHC scandal, which has left Robin shaken. She also makes vital contributions to the agency’s work as the detectives investigate the identity of the body at Ramsay Silver (The Hallmarked Man), but relationship troubles mean she is hardly a ray of sunshine. She also doesn’t think much of the agency’s newest hire Kim Cochran.
Kim Cochran
She was pertly pretty, always well groomed, and, with her short brunette hair and alert brown eyes, reminded Strike of a small bird.
The Hallmarked Man, Robert Galbraith
Midge is not alone in having doubts about the agency’s latest hire as investigations into the body found in the vault of Ramsay Silver begin (The Hallmarked Man). Kim Cochran used to work for rival detective Mitch Patterson, but his firm has gone bust and he is about to face trial for his illegal surveillance techniques. Strike is looking forward to the trial more than Christmas.
Kim’s work is exemplary and she has good police contacts, having worked for the Met for eight years before becoming a private detective. But the more she knows her, the less Robin likes her. Kim laughs longer and harder at Strike’s jokes than anyone else and treats his ideas and opinions with deference. To Robin, Kim is casual, even dismissive. When Kim talks over Midge at a meeting, and Midge protests, Robin backs her up. In turn, when Kim is offhand about Robin and her qualifications as an investigator, long-time subcontractor Barclay retorts, ‘When’s the last time you brought down an entire fuckin’ cult?’
For all Kim’s deference and eagerness to use her contacts to the agency’s advantage, it’s not long before Strike starts having doubts himself. In the midst of bad press stories, a challenging case, and his feelings for Robin, Kim’s flirtatious attentions are the last thing he needs.
