‘Kelly was a nurse,’ Armstrong explained, after they’d assisted Cora onto an armchair. ‘They kicked her out for pilfering prescription drugs … on our behalf, I’m sorry to say. But you don’t forget your training, do you?’

Lucy herself was a qualified first-aider, all coppers were, but she could only watch in admiration as Hells Kells drew on a pair of disposable gloves and went to work, using surgical scissors to snip away the two sleeves, first Cora’s anorak and then her tracksuit top, before swabbing, packing and dressing the wound.

Behind her, Danny Tucker had now been dragged to his feet by Harry, his hands cuffed behind his back. He too could have used some medical attention. Both his eyebrows were swollen, and one had split like an overripe peach. His nose was glutted with blood, and whenever his carmine lips came apart, at least two teeth were visibly missing. Blood also streaked his face from a gash above his hairline. He seemed fully compos mentis, but he looked tired and pained.

Lucy walked towards him with a face of bitter disappointment.

‘You’re under arrest on suspicion of armed robbery,’ she said. ‘You’re also under arrest on suspicion of attempted murder. That’ll do for starters, Danny … but I’m sure there are plenty more where they came from. And in case you were wondering, you don’t have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you fail to mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

‘I’m hurt,’ he said simply, meeting her eye to eye minus any apparent guilt. ‘Surely you can see that?’

‘We’re dropping my mother off at the hospital first,’ she said. ‘Then we’re taking you straight to the nick. The FMO can check you over. If we need to take you back to A&E, we’ll do it team-handed and with an armed escort.’

He half-smiled, before spitting out a wad of congealed blood and what looked like another half-tooth. Cora was now on her feet, her left arm bound and dressed and fixed in a temporary sling. She looked pale, and strangely sleepy.

‘I’ve not given her any painkillers,’ Hells Kells said, handing the casualty over so that Lucy could put a supportive arm around her. ‘Partly because I don’t know what they’ll want to give her at the hospital. So, she’s hurting … don’t dawdle.’

‘Thanks, Kelly,’ Lucy replied. ‘I underestimated you.’

The ex-nurse shrugged.

‘And you, Kyle,’ Lucy said. ‘Looks like I’m back in your debt.’

‘Get out of here,’ he replied. ‘Get your ma to the hospital.’

‘You know we’ll need to preserve this clubhouse as a crime scene?’

‘I’ll get everyone out. Just go.’