‘Everything matched what Louise Reakes said most recently,’ O’Malley told him. ‘April copped off with a guy she’d met there. She then left with him, at around midnight. She’s positive she didn’t see Louise talking to anyone who looked like Alex Plaskitt. She’s also pretty keen that we let Louise go immediately. A concerned, mildly threatening friend.’

‘Well,’ Jonah said, getting to his feet, ‘she gets what she wants. Louise is going to have to be released while we work out if we want to arrest her.’

‘I’ll drive her home,’ Hanson said, swinging her chair round. ‘She’s tired and hungover, and it’s possible she might say something she shouldn’t.’

‘Good,’ Jonah said. ‘Was there any update on CCTV on London Road?’

‘Sod all,’ O’Malley said. ‘I’ll ring them again.’

‘Thanks,’ Jonah said. ‘I’d like to chase the traffic cameras up, too.’

He collected Louise from the interview room, glancing at her sweat-sheened face. She’d put her coat on now, and the white fur lining made her look both younger and even more off-colour. But she’d been out drinking last night, so there wasn’t necessarily anything suspicious in looking nauseous. He’d been there himself on other occasions.

‘Detective Constable Hanson has offered to give you a lift home,’ he said, once they were close to his team.

Louise faltered. ‘Oh. That’s OK. I can get a cab.’

Hanson grinned at her. ‘It’s no problem. I want to grab a sandwich, anyway.’

Louise’s expression was clearly unenthusiastic, but she let Hanson walk her out. Jonah, watching Hanson’s very slight smile, felt almost guilty for handing Louise over to her. Almost.

‘I’m so sorry about this,’ Hanson said quietly, once they were out of CID. Up close Louise looked, if anything, worse than she had from a distance. There was a heavy look to her eyes that spoke of barely being able to keep awake and she was gleaming with perspiration. ‘I know it’s not much consolation, but it’s just the DCI doing his job.’

Louise gave her a doubtful look. She said nothing.

‘I’ve got some ibuprofen and co-codamol,’ Hanson tried, once they’d climbed into the ice-cold Nissan. ‘Would you like some …?’

‘God, I’d love some,’ Louise said, with sudden feeling. Hanson grinned and rifled through her handbag until she’d found them. Louise held out a hand and let Hanson squeeze four tablets onto it, two sugar-coated and two chalky. ‘Oh, do you have any water …?’

Hanson reached round to the back seat and retrieved a half-full bottle of Evian.

‘It’s only from yesterday,’ she said, ‘and I promise I don’t have the plague.’

Louise seemed unconcerned by the idea of germs. She tipped all four tablets into her mouth and then drank all of the remaining water as she swallowed them down.