There were so many possibilities, so many variables. Wozza and I discussed them at length. Sometimes, it looked like Jack was in the frame, and at other times he wasn’t. According to the publican, Ralph Murphy, he’d kicked Jack Barratt out as soon as he arrived at the Royal, so it’s unlikely that Jack had spiked any drinks—for Meg or Merv.

‘Do you think these guys are tag-teaming their assaults?’

‘It would account for the different descriptions of the offenders,’ Wozza said, looking at his whiteboard display.

‘It would also account for the similar MOs.’

‘Any news on the tox screen from the drink Jack bought you at the pub?’ asked Wozza.

I shook my head. ‘I checked the system when Merv’s results arrived. Nothing yet. The lab won’t rush through an attempted assault over an actual one or a death.’

A notification pinged on Wozza’s computer, and a second later mine pinged too. We both checked. Wheels had called a full staff meeting. Now.

Wozza and I made our way into the muster room, where Wheels stood leaning against a bench while gathering cops took seats. I chose to stand and lean on the wall opposite him. He noticed. Didn’t say anything.

Wheels silenced the general hum with a loud clearing of his throat. ‘I’ve just been on the phone with Mayor Tippet,’ he said, ‘and the mayor has called a town meeting for this evening to address the issue of the recent drugging incident.’

Looking at Wheels, his round face, his confidence, his sovereignty over this micro-kingdom of cops assured, I felt stirrings of hatred that surprised me. I studied his features as he spoke. What was going on behind the bullish exterior? What was he up to? In some small way, he reminded me of Daniel—except, of course, I had loved Daniel, not hated him. But what they had in common was their entitlement to be right; the belief that their point of view mattered more, carried more weight.

Wheels droned on. I looked around the room at the people I worked with. Jane and Randall watched him, serious faces, foreheads creased in concentration. Then I saw Jane shake her wrist to awaken her watch and steal a glance at the time. I smiled.

‘And in conclusion,’ said Wheels, ‘I’ll be speaking at the meeting and I’d like Wozza to take the lead. Tell them about the investigation, where you’re at and so on.’

Wozza coughed and sprang to life. ‘Er, boss, shouldn’t Pollard take the lead on this one? She’s—’

‘Absolutely not!’ Wheels said. ‘The town knows you. Trusts you.’

Wozza nodded dumbly. I grimaced at the implication that the town didn’t trust me. And why was trust a requirement in what was essentially a short case briefing?