She wondered if she should go to Pam’s house or call her. It seemed pointless, since she didn’t even know what the evidence against Tony was. The one thing she did know was that Tony had never been a violent man and had, in her eyes, always been a faithful and loving husband. He had his faults, but he was certainly no rapist. Her mind was made up; she decided to drive to West End Central Police Station and see if Tony was there, then find out for herself what the strength of the evidence against him was.

*

It didn’t take long to get to the police station, being just over a mile away from her flat. After parking in a back street, she was about to go through the foyer door to the front counter when she heard someone say her name.

‘Are you Jane?’

She turned and saw a familiar-looking man in his mid-twenties sitting on the foyer bench.

‘Do I know you?’

‘I’m Noel Harper. I was Tony’s best man. We met at the wedding and I remember him telling me you were a detective. Do you work here?’

‘No. I take it you know he’s been arrested?’

‘Yes, I was with him at the time. I’ve been trying to find out what’s happening, but no one will tell me anything.’

She sat down beside him. ‘When you say you were with him . . . did you actually see what happened?’

‘Yes and no, I guess. We were with a group of mates on a stag night in Leicester Square. When the pubs closed some of us went to the Empire Ballroom and this girl was all over Tony, but he wasn’t really interested in her.’

She sensed he was trying to hide something.

‘What do you mean by “not really interested”?’

‘Tony had a few dances with her, then he came back to the bar. She followed him over and asked if he’d buy her a drink.’

‘How many drinks did he buy her?’

‘Just the one, I think.’

‘Was Tony pissed?’

‘Not really.’

Jane didn’t believe him.

‘I’m going to be straight with you, Noel – and I need you to be the same with me, because I’m already feeling like you’re trying to protect Tony and that’s not going to help him. He phoned me after he was arrested and sounded in a hell of a state. I don’t know what the evidence is against him, but I don’t believe Tony would do what he’s accused of. If I’m going to try and help him, I need to know the truth. So, I’ll ask again: was he pissed and how many drinks did he buy her?’ she asked firmly.

‘He was drunk but coherent and bought her two drinks.’

‘Was he trying to get her pissed?’