‘How many times do I have to tell you?’ Isbitt shouted from the back of the car. ‘I didn’t murder anyone. I’m not a killer.’

Kate rolled her eyes so Laura would see. ‘And how many times do we need to remind you that anything you say will be given in evidence? It’s in your best interests to pipe down for now, Mr Isbitt. You’ll have your chance to speak when we’re inside.’

They left the roundabout, and Laura waited for the security barrier to lift, before pulling into the car park. ‘We’ll check him in, and then we can roll straight into interview, assuming Patel has prepped the interview suite.’

Laura parked and they exited the car, Laura dragging Isbitt from the back. But as they reached the door to the secure detention centre, it opened and Ben emerged. He held the door open for Laura and Isbitt, but did a double take when he saw Kate behind them.

He looked at her and nodded, his face expressionless.

Ben was the last person she’d expected to bump into at the station. Kate desperately wanted to apologise, to make things right. She could feel him drifting further away as the moment to make amends slipped by.

Kate took the edge of the door, allowing him to pass through in silence. ‘Wait,’ she called after Ben, before turning back to Laura. ‘Would you mind checking Isbitt in? I need to speak to Ben about something.’

Laura nodded and pushed Isbitt towards the custody desk, explaining his arrest. Kate closed the door, checking it was properly shut, before doing her best to hurry after Ben. He was already at his car when she caught up to him. ‘Ben, please wait.’

He stopped, but didn’t turn to face her, his voice barely more than a whisper. ‘What do you want, Kate?’

She reached out for his shoulder, but he shook her hand away. ‘I wanted to check how you are?’

‘I’m not sure how to answer that question.’

Her heart ached with the pain she had caused. He deserved to be treated far better. ‘Did you manage to complete the post-mortem on the Jane Doe?’

What was wrong with her? Every fibre of her being wanted to apologise, for scaring him with the painkillers, for the harsh words she’d said, for hurling the tea at him. She wanted to beg him to forgive her, and to tell him that she would try harder to let him in to her mixed-up world, but her thick skin wouldn’t allow that voice through.

He remained with his back to her. ‘Yeah, I completed it this morning.’

‘Did you establish COD?’

‘I’m waiting for test results, but it’s looking increasingly likely that she was suffocated like Helen Jackson.’

‘Okay, thank you. We have a suspect in custody.’

‘Good.’

Why couldn’t she just say the words? How difficult could it be to apologise, to let herself be vulnerable? She looked away. ‘What are your plans for the rest of the day?’

‘I’ve been up all night, so a shower and bed, I guess.’

‘If you’re free later… we could meet for dinner…’

He spun round, his usually sunny eyes looked tired and defeated. ‘What would be the point?’

What did that mean? Had he given up on them already? She wasn’t ready to let him go yet. She was a fighter, and she would fight for him. She reached for his hand, and this time didn’t allow him to break her grasp. ‘Ben, I’m… I’m sorry. Please, we need to talk about this.’

A glimmer of hope flickered across his face. ‘I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you apologise.’ His lips curled slightly up at one side.

Kate couldn’t stop a thin smile forming on her own face. ‘Well, you’d better not get used to it; I’m not often wrong.’

His smile grew wider. ‘I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one.’

She playfully slapped his arm. ‘I need you to know that what happened on Friday… it was an accident. I would never—’

‘I know,’ he interrupted. ‘You just scared me.’ He leaned in conspiratorially. ‘Don’t let on, but I kind of like having you around. I don’t know what I’d do if—’

It was her turn to interrupt, pressing a finger to his lips. ‘Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m made of strong stuff, remember?’

He nodded as she pulled her finger away.

‘So, are we… okay now?’

He stepped forward, wrapping his long arms around her shoulders. ‘Yeah, we’re okay. I really should get home though,’ he added with a yawn. ‘I’ve been up all night.’

She broke free of his embrace, conscious that anyone could come out and see their little moment of intimacy. ‘I’d better let you get on home then.’

Kate watched Ben get into his car and pull out of the car park, before heading to the secure detention centre and inputting the daily code. She felt less weighed down. There was finally light at the end of the tunnel.