A swirl of recalled emotion caught Carol unawares. She had a vivid recollection of the axe attack that had left Tony lying in a hospital bed and its aftermath. No need for redaction there. Lloyd Allen’s name was carved on her memory. ‘I was around at the time,’ she said calmly, hiding what was going on beneath the surface.

Just then the door swung open behind her. Carol turned in time to catch the arrival of Aidan Hart, Clinical Director of Bradfield Moor. It had been at least a year since she’d seen him last and time was definitely not on his side. He didn’t look as if he’d gained weight, but somehow, his face had grown pasty and jowly. Although he’d barely turned forty, there were deep lines between his eyebrows, and the whites of his eyes looked liverish. She’d never considered him attractive – particularly given what she knew about him – but now he was becoming positively repulsive. ‘What the hell is going on here?’ he demanded. For a psychologist, his interrogatory techniques seemed somewhat lacking.

Maggie was clearly inured to his belligerence. ‘I’m just sorting out something Dr Hill asked for,’ she said calmly.

‘On whose authority?’ Hart moved further into the room, using his height and bulk to dominate the women.

Maggie was undominated. She picked up Tony’s letter and waved it at him. ‘On Dr Hill’s authority. He has the right to access his own records.’

Hart looked around him theatrically. ‘I don’t see Dr Hill here.’

‘His letter authorises Ms Jordan here to access the information on his behalf.’

‘He can’t do that. It’s a data protection issue.’

Maggie shook her head. ‘I’ve redacted everything that could identify patients or other staff.’

‘I’m not prepared to release any of our records to a third party, however redacted they are. She’s not a police officer any more, you know. She’s here under false pretences.’

‘No, she’s not, she told me that.’

Hart’s crocodile smile crept across his face. ‘She didn’t tell the gatehouse staff or reception. She used police ID to bypass our security.’

Carol shrugged. ‘I needed photo ID. That was all I had. I never said I was a serving police officer.’

Two stripes of scarlet appeared on his cheeks, as if a child had drawn on his face with lipstick. ‘Don’t split hairs with me, Miss Jordan. I’d like you to leave now.’ He was wholly focused on her, but beyond him, Carol could see Maggie’s fingers move stealthily on the keyboard.

‘Not without what I came for. It’s completely uncontroversial. We could easily get a court order.’ Carol wasn’t going to give up without a fight.

‘Get one, then.’ He threw the door open. ‘Maggie, show Miss Jordan out, would you?’