He grabbed and squeezed his chin, as if punishing his errant mouth. The drug he’d been injected with, that was the cause, and they’d know that, right? Anna would know that. Despite the way she hung her head, clearly hurt by seeing him this way, or by the accusation he’d just laid down about her father, she’d know he wasn’t in control of what his brain wanted to say. Right?

‘What do you mean?’ the DS said. ‘How did you know this was about money? And why do you think this is about Anna’s father?’

He saw that everyone was giving him a suspicious look, as if he’d done something wrong. But he couldn’t work out what. ‘What else would it be about? I’m not the prime minister, I can’t be blackmailed into starting a war.’

That got puzzled looks. The consultant stepped in here, announcing that he didn’t think this interview should continue just yet. His patient was still suffering the effects of—

‘Of course it’s about him,’ Nick snapped, one hand raised to warn the doctor to keep away. And this time he wasn’t appalled by the words that slipped out unbidden. This time what he’d said made sense. ‘He’s always promoting his businesses on Facebook. He put his page from a companies’ index website on there, didn’t he? With his account finances, just to show off how much he’s got. Trying to make people jealous. All he did was make people want some. Now they’re going to get it, aren’t they? And he’ll pay. He won’t buy us a new dryer, will he? But he’ll pay this for Josie, I tell you now. I tell you now.’

He saw Anna scuttle towards the door and he called her name, loaded with a pleading tone. She stopped. But she didn’t look at him. And then she was eclipsed by the tall detective sergeant, Bennet, who stepped into Nick’s line of sight.

‘You’re right, Nick. These people do want money. Your wife called her dad to tell him. He’s just called me because her phone was off. He’s already agreed to pay the money. They’ve asked for fifty thousand. My question to you is, do you think Josie was taken in order to force Mr Middleton to pay up?’

‘Who the hell are you?’

That got him disappointed looks and another plea by the consultant. But this time the DCI held up a hand to stop the guy.

‘Just a moment, please. Nick, what made you say that about Anna’s father? Has he received any threats? In recent days? Have you?’

‘Anna, can I see you? Can you come here?’

‘Just a moment, dear,’ she said to Anna. ‘Nick, please. Do you know of anyone who’s shown interest in your father-in-law’s finances?’

‘Anna!’