DC Newman stands in the doorway to John’s office, looking fearful.
‘What wrong with you?’ John says.
‘James Scott is here but I’m afraid there was a bit of a scuffle.’
‘What the hell do you mean “a bit of a scuffle”?’
‘He bumped into Worthington on his way in.’
John jumps up and can feel his face glowering.
‘Jesus Christ. I specifically said to keep Worthington downstairs until James Scott was safely in the interview room. What part of that didn’t they understand?’
‘I don’t know, sir.’
‘It’s the usual fucking cock-up, that’s what it is.’
‘Yes, guv. I’m sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault,’ John says angrily, although he is pretty sure it is, and then in a slightly calmer voice: ‘Oh, never mind. Is DS Burton here?’
‘Yes, she’s just arrived. She got held up – something to do with her car.’
‘Apparently the morning has started badly for everyone then.’
Lucy stands up as John approaches her desk.
‘Sorry, boss, my car battery was dead this morning. I ended up coming on the Tube and then there were delays on the Northern Line.’ She is gabbling nervously.
‘Well, you’re here now. Let’s go down: Scott’s waiting and there’s been a change of plan.’
*
James is shaking violently as he sits waiting for Burroughs. Despite his hangover, he was feeling reasonably composed when he arrived, but seeing Alex has completely unravelled him. He doesn’t understand what is happening. Why was Alex leaving the station? Burroughs had said they were about to charge him so it doesn’t make any sense. James desperately tries to get his thoughts in order, but his mind is in an uproar and it is impossible to concentrate. All he can think of is Alex’s shocked face when he pinned him to the wall and James desperately wishes he had hit him; at least that would have given him some satisfaction, rather than flinging empty words at him.
He can feel the fear rising in his chest and takes two deep breaths. I must stay calm, he says to himself, there is bound to be a good reason for all this. But deep down there is a niggling feeling that something has gone very wrong.
When the two officers enter the room and there are no greetings, no handshakes, just a stony look from Burroughs, James knows that he is right.