After a moment, surprising even himself, Murphy took Con’s hand and shook it, blood running down his palm. He had questions, but he knew to keep them to himself in a police interview room.

‘Here’s our card, it has both our numbers on it,’ said Gabriella, handing business cards to both Dave and Murphy. ‘If you think of anything that might be useful, give one of us a yell. Come on, Con. And don’t touch me,’ she said, shuddering as Con held open the hand smeared with Murphy’s blood.

The two detectives left the room, leaving the door wide open behind them.

‘Are those two for real?’ muttered Dave. ‘How did they make it to detective?’

Murphy turned to Doble. ‘You’re gonna spend the rest of your life eating through a —’

‘Enough, Murphy,’ snapped Dave. Doble just glared at them. ‘Let’s go.’

They headed out through the tiled and whitewashed station corridors. It was a path Murphy knew well.

‘Well, that was a lucky throw. Those must be the two thickest detectives I’ve ever met. I was just trying to bluff our way out of there – you looked like you were about to explode – but I had no idea about that police brutality law. Or maybe I did, subconsciously? You know, I took an IQ test once, and I’m not saying I’m a genius, but . . .’

Murphy wasn’t listening. Don’t think about Jasmine’s drink bottle. You have to stay strong for her. But why would there be blood on her bottle? And a bag of our weed – oh God, please don’t let anything happen to her . . .

They turned the corner into the lobby and there were the detectives, standing at a coffee machine.

‘I’m not that thick, Mr Llewellyn,’ said Badenhorst, cleaning his hands from one of the hand sanitisers on the wall. ‘The law doesn’t work like that, but Doble wouldn’t know.’

Dave stopped short, looking between Badenhorst and Pakinga. ‘What?’

‘Mr Murphy, I know you don’t have anything to do with the girls going missing,’ said Badenhorst. ‘Your brother stopped in earlier, corroborating your alibi. So look, Gabby and I are on our way to the hospital. Want to come with us? We’ll have the sirens on.’

‘I don’t need the hospital.’

‘Well, here’s some reasons you might want to come. Number one: Eliza Ellis is awake and ready to talk to us. I’m sure you’re as keen to know what happened up there as we are. Two: honestly, going by the blood still coming out of your wrists, you probably do need to go to the hospital. Three: if we find Jasmine, she’ll be taken straight to emergency. It would be good if you were there.’

Con shrugged, hands in his pockets now.