So far, we’d had no reported cases in Deception Bay, but that could be down to under-reporting: statistically, for the five women who came forward, there could be another twenty who didn’t. Just because we hadn’t had reports didn’t mean we hadn’t had cases. Then the thought occurred to me: I am the first reported case.

Wozza gave me the nod. It was time for the interview. I wondered if Jack would no-comment his way through it. Wozza took him into the interview room, then came back out for some pre-interview strategising.

‘I’ll take the lead,’ he said.

I nodded. Said nothing. Since I was the one Jack had targeted, it made sense to create a bit of distance. If we were in the city, with a team of detectives, I might not go in at all.

‘You reckon we can hold him?’ Wozza asked. ‘I’m not keen to cut this guy loose.’

‘We can only hold him overnight if he’s a flight risk, or if he’ll destroy evidence …’

‘Or if he’s made threats against your life,’ said Wozza suddenly. ‘He threatened you. Just before I put him in the car. I heard him.’

Since I’d threatened him right back, I’d regarded the incident as over. But now that I thought about it, Wozza was right. That would be reason enough to hold Jack in custody overnight, at least until we could get a warrant to search his house for chloral hydrate.

It was a little strange sitting opposite Jack in the station’s interview room, just an hour after I’d sat opposite him at the pub. His bruising was starting to blossom.

Wozza pushed the buttons to operate the video and audio equipment to record the interview. He began with the preliminaries—time, date, names of those present—and then recited the caution. Jack sat sullenly on the other side of the table, his arms crossed, leaning back in his chair.

‘This is a record of interview with regard to matters occurring at the Commercial Hotel, Deception Bay at approximately nine o’clock this evening. It is alleged that you assaulted Senior Detective Pollard in the car park—’

‘I assaulted her?’ Jack’s voice was raised and angry. ‘There’s not a mark on her. Take a look at my face!’

Wozza continued calmly, as if Jack hadn’t spoken. ‘It is alleged that you assaulted Senior Detective Pollard in the car park and it is also alleged that you made threats against her.’

A noise escaped from Jack that sounded like a growl.

‘If you could speak clearly for the recording, that’d be great,’ said Wozza politely.

‘Is this clear enough?’ said Jack. ‘No comment.’

‘Just one last question,’ said Wozza. ‘Did you put anything in the drink you offered to Detective Pollard?’

Jack paled. ‘No comment,’ he grunted.