Tyler rushed to the door and called to the custody sergeant: ‘Get a doctor – quick!’

*

Jane was at her desk when Spencer hurried in to tell her that Justine Harris had attacked DI Miller. Miller appeared in the incident room with a bloodied handkerchief held to his face, his nose bleeding profusely. He went straight into Tyler’s office, instructing Jane to get him a cup of tea and some paracetamol.

Justine Harris had been taken into the small medical room by the canteen, accompanied by McDermott and the station doctor.

By the time DCI Tyler entered the incident room, calm had been restored. Jane asked him if he would like a cup of tea and told him that DI Miller was in his office.

Tyler ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Christ almighty . . . is he all right? We’re going to need one of the girls from the canteen to clean up in interview room one. Yes, I could murder a cup of tea, although perhaps that’s not quite the word I should be using.’

The canteen was busy as Jane, together with a young probationer, collected a bucket, mop and disinfectant to take to interview room one. There was a congealing pool of blood on the table and some spattering on the floor, which they dealt with quickly, returning the bucket and mop to the canteen.

When she got back to her desk, Spencer was shaking his head in disbelief. ‘She only jumped across the table and punched Miller on the nose!’

Jane couldn’t help but smile; she had felt like doing that to Miller many times herself.

‘It’s serious, Jane. She might have busted his nose. He’s gone to the hospital for a check-up, while that smarmy QC is sitting upstairs with Wonder Woman. Apparently she’s perfectly all right and wants to continue with the interview.’

Jane shook her head in disbelief. ‘She’s not going to be charged? Are you serious?’

‘That’s what I’ve been told.’ Spencer turned as Tyler came out of his office wearing a clean shirt. He took Jane to one side.

‘I need you to accompany me, but if you’re concerned about it, I’ll get Spence. I just feel that having another woman in the room might keep her calm.’

Jane was anxious not to show how eager she was, but immediately opened her desk drawer to take out her notebook. She couldn’t resist giving Spencer a raised eyebrow as she knew he would have loved to be in on the action.

They went back into the disinfectant-doused interview room one. Tyler gave Jane a brief rundown of exactly what had occurred and where they had reached when Justine had lost control. He was clearly still quite shaken.