‘What, where are you going?’ Sasha saw Craig watching her, so she walked away in an effort to get some privacy, but the interview room was on a busy corridor, and everywhere she stopped she was getting in someone’s way. ‘Never mind.’ There were more important things to attend to. ‘Is Angel there?’

‘She hasn’t come back.’

‘Do you think you could hang on until she comes home?’

‘I’d rather not,’ said her mother.

‘Then will you at least wait till I get back?’ she asked.

Her hope was that she’d be able to convince her mum to stay until Angel turned up. It was absolutely typical of Ursula to leave on the one day when it would be useful to have her there. Kev wasn’t answering his mobile, and Sasha didn’t know if Angel even had her keys. The last thing she wanted was for her daughter to return home, not be able to get in, and disappear off again.

But her mother’s terse replies suggested she was still smarting from being told off about Nelson and the row with Angel. ‘Well…’

‘I’ll get home as soon as I can,’ Sasha said. ‘I promise.’

When she headed back to Craig, Lolly Chambers was with him.

‘Let’s ask Lolly what we should do,’ said Sasha, still annoyed at Craig’s earlier remarks. ‘Lols, do you think it should be me or you who goes into the interview room with Detective Constable Power? He says that where Karin is concerned, I’m… compromised.’

Lolly looked uncomfortable at being put on the spot. ‘It’s not really my place to say.’

‘If only one of us here was senior enough to make a decision about who goes in. Hmm.’ Sasha tapped a finger thoughtfully against her chin and then made a shocked face. ‘Oh wait, I’m a senior officer.’

And then she pushed past Craig and into the interview room.

‘Thanks for waiting, Karin.’ Sasha dropped into a chair. Her DS came in and sat beside her while she flicked noisily through her notepad.

‘We’ve interviewed Jim Haskell and I can confirm he’s going to be charged with assault and criminal damage. Plus, we’re doing intel checks and searching his home and business premises, but there’s no evidence to suggest he’s involved in the abductions, or in Lydia’s death.’ Sasha looked up. ‘How are you feeling after the attack?’

‘Shocked,’ Karin said, ‘and a little bit foolish for thinking…’

‘Thinking what?’ asked Sasha when she didn’t finish the thought. Karin shook her head and Sasha once again got the feeling there was something she wasn’t telling her. ‘Do you know why he did it, Karin?’

‘He’s never liked me.’