‘Absolutely,’ Clement said firmly. ‘In fact, I think we should take you to WPC Loveday at the police station right now so that you can make a proper statement.’ He didn’t have the heart to tell the girl that she might well be facing charges herself. He only hoped that her full cooperation would go a long way in her favour, because he was fairly confident that there was no real harm in her.

At least he felt pleased to be contributing something worthwhile towards moving the case forward, finally. Lately, he felt that both he and Trudy were beginning to wonder if they’d ever get a break. Right now, he suspected that Trudy was feeling bored to death back at the station, and just longing for something to actually happen.

*

At that moment, however, WPC Trudy Loveday wasn’t at the station, and she certainly wasn’t feeling bored. Instead, she was in the bedroom of a B&B in Summertown getting her hair pulled out by the roots!

When Trudy and Rodney arrived at the Raven’s Rest, they found a scandalised and highly indignant landlady waiting for them in the hall. Even from there they could clearly hear the raised and angry voices emanating from somewhere above.

Naturally, they sprinted up the stairs and towards the room, following the violent sounds, and pushed open a half-closed door to discover a young man and woman volubly harassing an older woman, whom they’d succeeded in backing into a corner of the room. All three were shouting violently and heatedly at each other.

At the sudden interruption by the police officers, they fell momentarily silent, staring at Trudy and Rodney in astonishment.

The older woman, relieved at seeing much-needed reinforcements, recovered first. ‘It’s about time some help arrived,’ she said shakily, and then asked them to arrest the two younger people, who had been about to assault her.

At this point, Juliet recognised Trudy, and rallied quickly. ‘You can’t do that! She,’ she said, pointing dramatically at the older woman, ‘is the gate-crasher from Mother’s party! And if anyone did something to Terry Parker, it has to be her! It’s she who should be arrested.’

Counter-accusation on hysterical counter-accusation quickly followed, and ended with Jasper being foolish enough to try and drag Phyllis away from the wall in order to aid in her arrest.

Phyllis promptly slapped him and tried to fight back. At this, Jasper, shockingly and resoundingly slapped her back. As the sound of it echoed around the room, the older woman stared at him in stunned surprise, her hand going up to her reddening cheek.

Trudy, reacting faster than Rodney, immediately rushed forward to separate them. For all that she’d never liked Jasper, she’d never thought he would physically attack a woman. Oh, she knew drunken husbands beat their wives, but the sight of a well-brought-up, wealthy young man acting like a thug made her absolutely furious.