The sound of the phone ringing jolted her awake. She fumbled for the switch on the table lamp and saw the time on her alarm clock was 1 a.m. She got up to answer the phone, assuming it must be someone from the squad, but instantly recognised her brother-in-law Tony’s voice. He sounded agitated and distressed.

‘Something bad has happened, Jane – I didn’t know who else to turn to.’

He sounded as if he was trying to control his breathing. She could tell he was close to tears.

‘Are Nathan and Pam OK?’ she asked anxiously.

‘They’re fine – it’s me that’s in trouble, Jane. I really need your help.’

‘Take a deep breath, speak slowly and tell me what’s happened, Tony.’

‘I’ve been arrested for something I didn’t do. I’m worried the police will frame me for it,’ he said, sounding even more distraught.

‘I need to know why you’ve been arrested before I can help, Tony,’ she said.

There was silence on the other end of the line.

‘What’s so bad you can’t tell me?’ she asked calmly.

Tony took a deep breath. ‘This woman said I sexually assaulted her . . . but I swear I didn’t.’ He started to cry.

Jane was stunned. ‘Jesus Christ, Tony – what happened?’

She heard a male voice in the background.

‘Time’s up, son. You got to go back to your cell now.’

‘Please, please help me, Jane,’ he begged, sounding like a broken man.

‘What station are you at?’ she asked quickly.

‘The one in Mayfair—’

The phone went dead, and Jane realised the officer she could hear must have put the phone down. She sat on the edge of her bed in total disbelief, wondering what to do. She knew there were a few police stations in the West End, but the only one with a Mayfair address was West End Central in Savile Row.

She ran into the living room and got her Met Police pocket diary out of her shoulder bag, then, looking in the alphabetical list of police stations at the back of it, found the number for West End Central. She went back to her bedroom and was about to pick up the phone, but hesitated, wondering what she should say, as she knew the custody sergeant wouldn’t be obliged to tell her anything. She didn’t even know if Tony had requested to speak to a solicitor, but doubted it as he would only have been allowed one phone call.

‘Christ, this is all I fucking need right now!’