‘Somewhere out on the river. He told me how he would walk the river path for miles and not see a soul. He reckoned his friend had family problems too, that’s how they became mates, and this hideaway was where the guy went when things got really tough at home.’ Andy thought hard. ‘He never mentioned an actual location, but I got the feeling it was somewhere out Stone Quay way. Do you know where that is?’

Marie went cold. That place held bad memories. ‘I know it.’

‘I can’t swear to it, but that was the impression I got.’ Andy Forman looked at his watch. ‘I really do need to get back, DS Evans, and I can’t think of anything else that might help you.’

She dragged her mind away from Stone Quay and smiled at him. ‘You’ve been an amazing help. Honestly, what you’ve told us is invaluable. If you do think of that man’s name, you will ring me, won’t you?’

He stood up. ‘Of course. It’ll bug me until I remember.’

She thanked him again and escorted him back to the foyer. As she watched him walk away, she finally allowed herself to think about Laura. It would crucify Jackman if she were badly injured. Oh God, what a day!

* * *

‘I’m fine, honestly. Don’t fuss.’ Laura rolled her eyes. ‘You’re like an old mother hen.’

‘Look at your poor head! No wonder I’m worried!’ Laura’s scan showed no visible damage and no internal bleed. Even so, they would be keeping her in for observation for a while. Sam too had escaped serious injury, just bruising and pain from the site of his old gunshot wound.

‘At least you can now talk to me about that patient of yours,’ he said. ‘As a murder suspect, he’s fair and square within our jurisdiction.’ Freddie Shields’s case was being handled by a different team, as Jackman was embroiled in the hunt for Jordan Spiller, but Laura could at least tell him about her patient.

‘I can’t tell you what a relief that is,’ she whispered, gripping his hand. ‘I’m so sorry, darling, you have every right to be angry. We should never have gone to that house, but I really believed he was just neglecting her. We had no idea that . . .’ The tears began to flow.

‘I’m not angry. How could I be, considering the things I do in my job? You were concerned for someone’s safety, I understand that.’ He smiled. ‘Although I might need to give that Sam a bit of stick!’

‘And he would fully deserve it,’ said a voice from behind him. ‘I’m really sorry, Jackman. I should have had more forethought.’

‘Forget it, Sam.’ He pointed to a chair next to Laura’s bed. ‘I’d have done the same myself. The main thing is that Laura didn’t go alone.’