No, he didn’t have the right, but it didn’t stop him. He seemed to take great pleasure in singling me out for attention regardless. Reihana was on to it when he said I seemed to be the DI’s punching bag of choice. How on earth could I relinquish that position? No idea. I was powerless, in every way. I recalled the snatch of angry words I’d heard between Smithy and the DI during my bolt for freedom.

‘Thanks for standing up for me, I appreciate that.’

Smithy came over and sat beside me on the bench, elbows on his knees, his dry skin making tin-whistle scales as he rubbed his hands together.

‘It was all I could do not to deck him one. Let’s just say it got a bit ugly in the room after you left and I think our DI is in no doubt as to whose side we’re all on.’ I managed a smile. ‘Interesting choice of bolthole by the way. It took me a bit to find you.’ We were sitting in one of the empty cells in the basement. It had been a quiet night, so there were plenty to spare. I’d craved somewhere small and quiet and dark and my feet had directed me here. There was something cave-like about the room and I needed that security of cool concrete against my back.

‘Not very cosy, but I thought no one would look for me here.’

‘You got that right. Most people like to avoid imprisonment.’

‘I’m not most people.’

His hands stopped. ‘Maybe you should go home for the rest of the day, have a break. You’ve been through a hell of a lot.’

‘But they’ll want a statement and I’m sure I haven’t seen the last of the DI. I’d only get into more trouble if I left now. It’s probably better I stick around for a while.’

‘Don’t you worry about him. I’ll have a word with higher powers because I don’t think he’s being objective or fair. You did a good job out there this morning, Sam, under bloody awful circumstances.’

Having some positive affirmation of my morning’s work set the waterworks off again and I wiped away at the tears, annoyed at how easily they betrayed me.

‘They captured the whole thing on video.’

My eyes slammed shut. Oh God, just what I needed. The thrum of the helicopter rotors re-invaded my headspace. Not only would I have to recount the event in detail for the inevitable enquiry, I’d get to see it all from God’s point of view in marvellous technicolour. That awful moment replayed again and again, and not just in my mind. Smithy put a hand out to steady my legs as they twitched.

‘They?’