I wonder how much they heard before we saw them.

DS Percy sighs.

‘OK. This is DC Lincoln. We’ve been following up the Premier Inn robberies.’

Katy’s eyes widen.

‘What’s this got to do with you?’

I shrug.

‘Nothing. Except I slept with them before they were robbed. So I’m the link. So how can I help you? Did we miss something?’

DS Percy gets out her little notebook.

‘Two things. This and your ex-husband. But I’ll come to that in a minute. I just wanted you to know that we’ve arrested someone for those photographs of you.’

I hold my breath. Both DS Percy and DC Lincoln study me intensely. At first I think it’s a trap and they’re waiting for my reaction. Then I realise that they’re waiting for me to say something.

‘Oh. Thank goodness. You’ve got him, then.’ It’s over. It’s finally over. Thank goodness. DS Percy has managed to solve the case herself and I didn’t need to jeopardise myself after all. She visibly relaxes.

‘Yeah. We arrested the perpetrator outside your house and he admitted it straight away. It turns out that someone was paying him to follow you.’ It’s not fucking over. They haven’t arrested Jack. They’ve got the wrong person. I can feel the colour drain from my face. I can see DC Lincoln looking around at the Amazon boxes and the days’ old food. There are pieces of crime scene tape left from the search and the remnants of ripped-up boxes. DS Percy continues. ‘I have to warn you that he had some more photographs of you with him. Rather compromising ones. Some of them from a while ago. This guy had been following you for a long time. We also found a stolen watch from one of the rooms.’

I quickly gather my thoughts. This is wrong. A ghost of a pissed-up memory permeates reality and filters into the possibility that I could have been wrong about Jack setting this up. Auto-suggestion isn’t that rare in criminal cases.

I was so sure. But it gives me some leeway.

‘Right. Only I heard something the other night. That’s why I went to the hotel. I was scared. Someone creeping around. The dog barking.’

Katy strengthens my case, hands over her mouth.

‘Oh my God. After everything Jack has done to you, and now this.’

DS Percy nods. She’s agreeing with Katy. Sympathising. Thank goodness. I might be on the way back to myself but I’m not in the clear yet.

‘The thing is, he might get bail. It might be better if you find somewhere to stay. Just until we know for sure. And we’ll be looking into who put him up to this.’

Katy jumps in.

‘You must stay with me, Caroline. You must.’