This time, Mike didn’t reply, but looked between the two detectives, trying to work out what was going on.

‘You are lying,’ Forest said, enunciating each word clearly and slowly for effect. ‘The report from the doctor who examined you states that whoever tried to stab you did so from the front, not from behind you. They would have been standing right in front of you, looking you full in the face, in order to attack you. I don’t understand how you couldn’t identify your attacker in this situation.’

Mike shook his head vehemently. ‘No, that’s not how it happened. The doctor must be mistaken.’ He paused, and I could almost hear the thoughts forming in his mind. ‘Unless I’ve completely forgotten it. If I have concussion from hitting my head, I’m sure that could cause temporary amnesia. Then when I came round, I just assumed they attacked me from behind because I couldn’t remember seeing them.’

‘That’s a lovely story,’ Forest said, ‘but I’m afraid that version isn’t going to work either. The doctor has assured us that the person who attempted to stab you didn’t do a particularly good job of it, and they only gave you a gash on your arm. The blow you suffered to your head was minor. In fact, he was surprised that you even lost consciousness.’

Mike looked sullen and stared at Forest. ‘What are you accusing me of? I don’t think I want to continue talking to you,’ he said. ‘I came here to give my statement, not to be badgered and accused of lying. I’ll be putting in a formal complaint about my treatment here.’ He stood up and made as if to leave the room, but Forest got to the door before him.

‘Sit down, Mr Lowther. Or do I need to arrest you?’

‘What for?’ he demanded, calling Forest’s bluff, or so I thought.

‘Wasting police time with this absolutely appalling fabricated story,’ she snarled.

For a moment they stood nose to nose, until Mike’s shoulders dropped and he sat back down, putting his head in his hands.

‘The inconsistencies in your story lead us to believe that you weren’t actually attacked,’ Singh said, his voice icy. ‘Instead, our current theory is that you faked this attack, stabbed yourself in the shoulder, knowing that someone would soon find and help you, and invented this story. Are we correct?’

I thought Mike wasn’t going to answer, but he nodded.

‘Out loud, please, Mr Lowther,’ Forest barked.

‘Yes, fine. You’re right. Fuck’s sake.’ Mike thumped the table but didn’t say any more.

‘Our question now has to be, why? Why go to all of this trouble to try and convince us you were attacked?’

Silence. Mike rested his forehead on the table and looked down at the floor, ignoring Singh’s question.