As I’m about to inform Ben that, based on this tête-à-tête, we need a more formal conversation at the station, a commotion from the bookshop interrupts us. Reuben is storming towards us with Ed grabbing at his arms and shoulder to try and prevent his arrival, to no avail.

Tom is a few steps behind, pushing past the crowd that has spilled out onto the street. Reuben pushes Ed to the side and, with a dull thud, lands a punch on the side of Ben’s face which sends him sprawling off the bench and onto the cold ground. He grasps the side of his face and scrambles backwards, frantically trying to get to his feet as Reuben advances, fist held aloft.

As he is about to land another blow, Tom tackles him around the waist and attempts to pin him to the floor. I run to Tom’s aid and help restrain Reuben as handcuffs are attached around his wrists and he is placed under arrest.

Pushing back the hair that has fallen over my eyes, I glance around at the bench and, to my annoyance, Ben is nowhere to be seen.

13

I’m struggling to keep my eyes open this morning, having only managed to cram in a few hours’ sleep before returning to my desk. Dealing with the Reuben situation crept into the early hours of the morning, and the clock on the bottom corner of my computer monitor currently displays 8:03 a.m.

I reach for my second coffee of the day, praying the caffeine kicks in sooner rather than later. Liam, fresh faced and sprightly, knocks on the door to my office and enters without waiting for an answer, throwing himself into one of the comfortable chairs, the water in his glass sloshing over the sides and spilling onto his trousers in the process.

‘I hear Reuben has been a naughty boy again,’ he says by way of a good morning greeting, whilst rubbing the wet patch with the back of his tie.

‘He was, but in a way, I’m on his side,’ I reply, receiving a perplexed look in return.

I spend the next few minutes filling my partner in on the events of the previous evening; how Rory and Ben proceeded to put a dampener on Reuben and Ed’s special evening. How Reuben, having been processed, paid his own bail and left the station looking ashamed. When I finish, Liam looks thoughtful.

‘I see what you mean. This Ben fella sounds like he deserved that punch.’ He takes a sip of water. ‘So, all the big players were present; Reuben, Jay, Ed and Rory. And now this lad, Ben. Did you manage to talk to the illusive Ed?’

I shake my head.

‘Tom was waiting for him while I had a word with Ben. We were going to bring Ed into the station for a chat, just to get his version of events from the night Anna died. But with everything that happened with Reuben and Ben, he was long gone by the time we got everything tied up. I have spoken to him this morning though and he has invited us to his house this afternoon.’