‘Okay, Giovanni, I’m gonna give it to you straight,’ Kim said, setting her coffee down on the table. ‘A man is dead and so is an elderly lady and I’m wondering if you had something to do with it.’

His face paled as he began to shake his head.

‘I have evidence building that I think is going to point towards either you, your dad or both of you, so I think you should—’

‘Am I under arrest?’ he asked, looking from her to Bryant.

‘Did you hear me read you your Miranda rights?’

He shook his head.

‘I’m just being honest with you because I think you’re hiding something.’

‘But I—’

‘Don’t say anything right now. Just listen.’

‘But I wouldn’t hurt someone because—’

‘Thing is, Giovanni. You were very angry at the way your dad was treated by both the hospital and Doctor Cordell. It’s understandable you’d want to protect his honour, defend him.’

‘But I honestly—’

‘I want you to know that we understand. We get it,’ she said, glancing at Bryant, who had a firm set to his jaw and she knew why. He’d get over it. The guy wasn’t even under caution.

‘So, I’m wondering if a situation just got out of your control, that you didn’t intend to hurt—’

‘I wouldn’t… I swear,’ he said, looking to Bryant, who nudged her leg beneath the table.

She ignored him.

‘See the thing is to hurt someone just because you feel like it or to defend your family is almost like two different crimes, and I don’t think you’d just hurt someone for no reason. Even a judge would understand feeling strongly about—’

‘A minute outside, guv?’ Bryant said, breaking the tension she’d deliberately built between them.

She smiled tightly and left the room. She waited for Bryant to close the door.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ she hissed.

‘I could ask you the same question,’ he snapped. ‘The bloody Reid technique?’ he asked. ‘I was counting the steps with you. Textbook, and even in the correct order. Lead suspect, shift blame, discourage denial, reinforce sincerity, offer alternatives, give a more socially acceptable motive like the defence of one’s family,’ he said, eyes flashing.

‘It’s an effective method,’ she defended.

The whole programme was a three-step process. Fact Analysis followed by a Behaviour Analysis Interview and then the nine steps of Interrogation.

‘Yeah, but you skipped straight to third base and hammered the guy with a monologue rather than a question and answer session which—’

‘Bryant, I want some answers and the technique can be—’

‘It’s guilt presumptive and you know it. It’s confrontational, psychologically manipulative with the single purpose of getting a confession, but more than anything, guv, it’s beneath you. That guy is here voluntarily, without a brief, and he hasn’t even been arrested.’

Her own frustration churned at her stomach, compounded by the truth of his words.

The force directive was to apply the principals of the PEACE model. Preparation and Planning, Engage and Explain, Account, Closure and Evaluate which encouraged more of a dialogue between investigator and suspect.

And she did. Normally. But right now she wanted results.

She met her colleague’s gaze. ‘Okay,’ she said, knowing he had a point.

‘Don’t humour me,’ he spat.

‘I’m not. You’re right. I shouldn’t have questioned him like that. I just know he’s hiding something and—’

‘We’ll find it the legal, ethical way but not at any cost,’ he answered.

‘People are dying, Bryant, in case you’ve forgotten that.’

‘And we’re the good guys, guv, in case you’ve forgotten that.’

Almost. Sometimes. But not with her colleague’s integrity working right alongside them.

A constable approached and nodded in her direction.

‘Marm, Mitch Allen is waiting for you in reception.’

Kim smiled at Bryant’s puzzled expression.

‘Great timing,’ she said, looking along to the foyer. ‘Would you be kind enough to send him back here?’