‘There was no one else there. The van was locked. The cause of death is clear.’ She stops. ‘There’s nothing to show any other involvement in Dr Sharp’s death, except Finn’s.’

‘But what about the drinking? What about the LSD?’ Robin tries. He told both Craig and Josie yesterday about their discovery in the lab and in his flat, the clear liquid now confirmed as vodka. Josie was confused; Craig was indifferent.

‘You know as well as I do,’ Craig replies, ‘that intoxication – voluntary or otherwise – is a weak defence. And anyway, that’ll be for his lawyer to decide.’

‘So why do it now?’

She stops, looking down at the floor. Robin can tell she’s as unhappy about it as he is. ‘I’m getting pressure from above, Robin. You know how it is.’ She’s appealing to his knowledge of working cases like this. ‘The press are having a field day. My detective chief super wants an arrest.’

‘So, it’s PR, DI Craig. No more than that,’ Robin growls.

‘No, Butler. We have our man. I know it.’ She points through the glass at Finn. ‘Even he knows it. And it’s time you faced facts. Your best mate committed murder.’

She pushes past him and opens the door into Finn’s room. Josie goes to protest, but Robin puts his arms round her shoulders.

‘I’m sorry, Josie,’ he says, and she turns, clutching his hand.

In the hospital room, DI Craig stands next to Finn’s bed. He looks up at her.

‘Dr Finn Mason?’ Craig says, and he nods. He looks at Craig, then to Robin and Josie, his face puzzled. ‘I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Dr Simon Sharp on Wednesday the nineteenth of May.’ Finn’s mouth drops open. Still in Robin’s arms, Josie makes a small noise, halfway between a gasp and a sob. ‘You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’ Craig stops. ‘Do you understand?’

Finn blinks. ‘Simon’s dead?’ he says.

Josie starts to cry, and Robin wraps his arms around her, holding her tight.

His best friend – his oldest friend, the one person who knows him better than any other, who he spent his entire childhood with, who he would trust with his life – has just been arrested for murder.

And Robin hasn’t a clue what he’s going to do about it.

Part 2

21

Freya watches the press conference on her monitor, open-mouthed. A detective chief superintendent she doesn’t know is standing on the podium in front of a large blue backdrop, reading from a statement. Lights and cameras flash; the room is full to bursting with journalists and photographers.