She tried to think what could be happening outside this room. Was Luke just calmly carrying on with his day? He’d murdered a woman and by great good luck, someone else had been arrested. All he had to do was hold his nerve, and as long as they never found the knife, he would almost certainly get away with it. And the longer she remained silent, the easier it would be for him. The Time Police were right. She should speak up. Speak out. Now. Because if she left it any longer, they’d think she was just accusing Luke to save herself. They were still talking at her. Her head ached. She wanted to lay her forehead on the cool, cool table, close her eyes and retreat from all this. Just for a moment. Just to have a moment to stop and think.

The door opened and suddenly Luke was standing there, sandwiched between two enormous security guards. A wave of hot relief washed over her. He’d confessed. She was light-headed at the thought. She was safe. He’d admitted what he’d done and she would be free.

The two shouting officers got up and left the room. The door closed behind them, leaving Luke and Jane on their own.

They looked at each other. Luke’s face was completely blank. And then she realised the truth. They’d let him in because they thought she would talk to him.

They were alone together but neither made the mistake of thinking their faces weren’t on half a dozen screens and being carefully scrutinised by a large number of security people. There would be hidden cameras all over this room. Not for one single second would they be unwatched.

He put his forearms on the table and leaned forwards. ‘Jane – silence is not an option for the Time Police. They’ll hurt you badly if you don’t speak. Please – tell them exactly what happened and plead extenuating circumstances. It wasn’t your fault. You’ve recently had a concussion. You didn’t know what you were doing. Ellis will speak up for you. And North. You have to confess, Jane. Please. Make it easy on yourself.’

All hope drained away, taking her courage with it. He hadn’t come to save her at all. He’d come to save himself. Contempt and disgust rose within her. Along with good, healthy rage. She was sickened to think Luke was going along with this when he knew very well she was innocent. She tried to express her disgust through her expression. She’d always known he was self-absorbed and selfish but surely even he could see the burning-hot contempt in her face.

She’d had enough of him – of the Time Police – of everyone. She folded her arms and silently vowed she’d see them all dead at her feet before she said a single word.