Dani sat back in her seat and let out another long sigh. It was taking all of her strength to stop tears from flowing. She looked across the room. Everyone now had their heads down, even Easton and Jason. They all knew what was coming and no one was prepared to stand up for her.

Not even Easton? Despite what he’d said to her yesterday about the accident not being her fault? Perhaps McNair had already put enough pressure on him to make sure he would turn an eye to the force throwing Dani under the bus.

Bad choice of words, perhaps.

It didn’t take long for Baxter and McNair to deliberate. McNair called Dani back in less than fifteen minutes later.

‘Please take a seat,’ Baxter said.

‘I’m fine standing,’ Dani said, folding her arms. Defiant to the end.

‘DI Stephens,’ Baxter began, ‘based on the information we have gathered so far, including your own responses to our questions, we believe there is sufficient evidence to require the conducting of a formal inquiry, and that it would be in the interests of all the parties to do so. Given the seriousness of the matter, that a young man has lost his life, and another man is in a critical condition in the hospital—’

Dani winced as she recalled the scene; the occupants trapped in their cars. She was hugely relieved that they were all still alive, whoever they were.

‘—I have no choice but to refer this matter to the IOPC, who will determine the necessary investigative steps required.’

IOPC. The Independent Office for Police Conduct. Dani could already sense what Baxter was about to say next.

‘I’m afraid, DI Stephens, that pending the results of that investigation, you are suspended from active duty. Is there anything you’d like to say at this stage?’

‘No.’

‘We’ll be in touch in due course with details of the formal process, once the IOPC has considered the steps they wish to take. You’ll continue to receive full pay and benefits until the outcome of proceedings is known, though I am obliged to inform you at this stage that it’s possible that matters could move beyond disciplinary action against you.’

‘Meaning what?’

‘I understand the IOPC has already received word from the deceased’s legal representatives that they are considering whether Dean Harland was unlawfully killed, and therefore whether there is sufficient evidence for a full public inquiry, and for civil or criminal action to be taken. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

‘Yeah. That you might not be happy with just throwing me off the force for doing my job. If it gets you the right slap on the back from the powers that be, you’ll be happy to see me in jail too.’