‘Let me in there,’ Anna screamed, fighting against six hands holding her. Adrenaline strength got her close enough to the viewing panel to see him again. ‘Nick! Where’s Josie? What happened?’

In the second she managed to remain at the door, he stared right at her and again shouted: ‘Use a towel for that, I told you. Who the hell are you?’

There was a bench against the wall and she shrugged free of the hands clamped to her flesh and sat down, hard. More like a collapse. Everyone was breathing hard, bar the unflappable DCI, who sat next to her. But the older woman didn’t get chance to say a word.

The officer watching through the viewing panel gave a shout. As Anna jerked her head round, the officer rushed to open the door. Both women leaped up at the same time. Anna got to the door just in time to see all three police officers bending over Nick, pinning his arms and legs.

‘Nick!’

He was on his front, thrashing like an epileptic, and there was vomit under his head, his face rubbing back and forth in the mess. Screaming his name again, she tried to move forward, but Miller grabbed her arms.

‘Don’t go in. Anna, stop!’

‘Look at him! Do something.’

She pushed Anna aside and rushed to Nick. Anna tried to copy, but the behemoth Bennet stepped up to block her way, and snatched an elbow in his bear-trap hand as she tried to slip by. Stranded, Anna watched as Miller lifted Nick’s head by his hair and jammed her fingers into his mouth, seeking a swallowed tongue.

‘What’s happening? Is he having a fit?’

Miller twisted Nick’s head, leaned hers close, and pinched a portion of neck flesh between two fingers covered in his saliva. Anna saw a red welt and, even at this distance, a small hole.

‘Get a damn ambulance, you muppets,’ Miller yelled.

It was that moment, a rare burst of anger from the ever-calm detective, that made Anna’s thighs lose power.

‘He’s just drunk,’ one of the PCs mumbled, shaking his head as if Miller had requested something stupid. Still on her knees, she actually kicked out at his ankle to get him moving. And then she looked straight at Anna, who was being kept upright by Bennet.

‘He’s been drugged.’