She sat alongside a selection of villagers who had also come to collect miscreants.

‘Hiya, Maddy!’ Brenda waved along the row. ‘They’ve got my Wayne. The little bugger. And Elaine’s Gavin. Still, they’re used to ’aving ’im ’ere. ’E’s got ‘is own cell.’

Maddy smiled faintly. The overhead lighting did nothing to improve the ambience. Harassed policemen and women were scuttling about, the phone rang incessantly, and clumps of morose villagers were beginning to smell mildewy as damp clothes dried on muddy bodies.

Drew slid his arm round her shoulders and pulled her head down. Maddy closed her eyes. She knew Brenda was watching them beadily but she didn’t care.

‘I hadn’t envisaged the day ending like this.’ Drew spoke into her hair. ‘In fact, I thought I’d probably never see you again.’

‘Difficult, when I live across the road.’

‘You know what I mean. I thought we’d just exchange polite nods.’

‘I didn’t even think we’d do that. I’m sorry that I spoiled this morning. I think we just ought to steer clear of mentioning Caroline.’

‘So do I.’ Drew was stroking her hair now, making her feel quite dizzy with longing. ‘At least for the rest of the day. This is fraught enough. Eventually though, we’re going to have to talk about her.’

She sighed. ‘Yes, I know. Have you ever been arrested?’

‘No. Never been in a police station, either. Have you?’

‘No. It’s nice to have a shared new experience, isn’t it?’

‘I could think of better ones …’ His head lowered, and remembering just in time, he turned away. ‘Sorry. Wrong time. Wrong place.’

The doors swung open. Peter and Jeff Henley strode in, talking animatedly with a policewoman and a rather scruffy man with a pot belly and a drooping moustache.

‘He’s probably the Chief Commissioner,’ Drew said. ‘Trust Peter to go to the top.’

‘I want them charged with assault!’ Jeff Henley bellowed as they forced their way through the crowded office. ‘Bang ’em up!’

‘We’ll have to take statements first,’ the policewoman was saying, glancing at Peter and moistening her lips. ‘I understand both Miss Henley and Mrs James-Jordan have been checked over in hospital. We’ve sent someone to speak to them.’

‘But we know who did it! It was common assault! My Stacey’s only a child! I want justice!’ The policewoman ushered him into an interview room.

Peter was still talking to the pot-bellied man. Maddy leaned forward and called him.

He looked at her blankly. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’

Pushing through the crowd, Maddy smiled at the plain clothes policeman. ‘Could I just have a word with Mr Knightley? In private?’

‘Yeah. Sure. You the duty solicitor?’