Then, as if he’d heard her silent scream, he stumbled and looked around.

Saw the danger.

The next few seconds were a confused blur.

The train passed Hawkins, its noise bursting fully as it went.

Ahead, Mike pulled off the track, and she saw him turn to yell a warning at Mardell, the same way she had done a moment before.

Mardell didn’t react.

But the driver must have seen them, because at that moment its horn shattered the air, joined a millisecond later by the scream of metallic brakes. Mardell ducked instinctively and looked around. He saw the huge shape bearing down on him and threw himself aside, just seconds before the train thundered past, horn still sounding as it continued on towards the station.

Hawkins set off towards the two men, watching Mike stumble across and pin down Mardell’s crumpled form. She arrived beside them.

Mike locked off the plastic cuffs and glanced up at her, panting. ‘Whoa. Thought we were … toast there for a second. You OK?’

She nodded, holding back tears of relief, aware that crying in front of a suspect was likely to undermine her authority. She felt the urge to embrace Mike; take back every cross word.

But this wasn’t the time.

‘All right.’ Mike stood and levered Mardell upright. ‘Time for some answers.’ He swung their captive around to face Hawkins.

‘Hello, John.’ She forced her face into a smile. ‘I’m beginning to think you’re avoiding us.’

Mardell coughed, wheezing as he forced a reply. ‘What gave you that impression?’

‘You’re a difficult man to catch up with,’ she said. ‘I’m glad you’re feeling more talkative today.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘I wasn’t just making conversation last time we met. I still want to know what you were doing on Cavendish Square two days ago.’

He snorted. ‘No comment.’

‘Fine.’ She bent to retrieve the Ziploc bag from where he’d dropped it, opening the corner to verify its potent contents, wrinkling her nose. ‘Didn’t your dealer suggest dumping this sort of thing if you’re ever chased along a railway line by the police?’

‘That’s for personal use.’

‘Personal? Are you sure? Because when you appeared at the door and shouted “Who’s for reefer?” I got the distinct impression it was for the band.’

He adjusted his position, pulling at Mike’s restraining hold. ‘That’s sharing, not supply. Anyway, there ain’t much there.’

‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Hawkins hefted the bag. ‘I think there’s enough to put you in front of a judge. And when they hear about your penchant for resisting arrest, the sentence might be, well … impressive.’ In the weak light from the station, she saw fear flash behind Mardell’s eyes.

He coughed again; spat on the track. ‘Don’t you lot have proper criminals to chase?’