‘We’ll be there soon,’ DS King says, taking my hand in hers and instructing DC Black to switch on the blues and twos.

I almost feel bad for lying to her, but I push those feelings back.

I spot Bernie Doherty as soon as we arrive at the emergency department in Altnagelvin. Her face ashen, a bloodstained coat in her arms. She is being led down the corridor away from the main doors of the department by a uniformed police officer, and a man with a stethoscope around his neck who appears to be a doctor. I know the relatives’ room is at the end of this corridor and sure enough, I see her led to the door of it.

I feel a hand on my arm and I jump, pulled from my reverie by DS King, who is leading me to a seat in the main waiting room on the left. As much as I want to follow Bernie Doherty and talk to her, I can’t just feign a miraculous recovery. The room is full to bursting and is uncomfortably warm.

‘You’ll get help soon,’ DS King says as we sit down.

There’s a degree of agitation in her voice. She’s tense. She probably wants to see what is happening with Liam Doherty as much as I do. My name is called by a nurse. Before I can speak, DS King jumps in, giving my history so that I don’t have to speak. The nurse visibly relaxes, having assessed that I’m not a dangerous criminal. But DS King doesn’t, and the tension coming off her in waves is making me feel uneasy.

I follow the nurse through to the treatment bays and she asks me to hop up on the bed.

‘We’ll do some checks,’ the nurse says. ‘Give you a little oxygen to regulate your breathing.’

She slips some rubber tubing around my head, poking two little valves into my nose. I feel the gentle flow of oxygen. I lie back and close my eyes as she slips a blood pressure cuff on my arm. I feel it tighten. DS King speaks and I open my eyes.

‘Right, Ingrid, I’ll leave you here for a bit. DC Black will be just outside. I’m going to check in with my team about the Doherty incident.’

The nurse raises an eyebrow. DS King leaves the room and I take a deep breath of oxygen while the nurse takes my temperature.

‘It’s all go tonight,’ the nurse quips. ‘And we can’t even blame the pubs. Sure, it’s not even eight yet. Must be a full moon or something.’

‘Is that true?’ I ask between breaths. ‘Do full moons really bring out the crazy people?’