Mark had had enough of being questioned, cross-questioned and clearly disbelieved. ‘Charge me or let me go,’ he demanded, challenging Edwards as he came back into the interview room.

‘Sit down, DI Cain,’ Edwards said, glancing down at the table, ostensibly to pick up his papers. ‘Your claims will be investigated, along with everything else. Meanwhile, try to stay calm.’

Mark stared incredulously at him. ‘My daughter’s missing!’ he shouted, his anger way off the scale. ‘I’m stuck here, about to be remanded into custody for serious offences I didn’t commit, while I believe my family to be in danger, and you want me to sit down and stay calm?’

Edwards turned to walk back out without uttering another word. Had he despatched anyone to his house yet? Even forensics pulling the place apart would be better than Mel and Poppy there on their own. Was he doing anything? Mark dragged a hand furiously over his neck. Fuck it, he thought, heading towards the door after Edwards, only to find Cummings blocking his way.

‘Move.’ Mark eyed him levelly.

Cummings smiled flatly. ‘You’re under arrest, Cain. You know how this works. You’re going nowhere.’ He grabbed hold of Mark’s arm and attempted to shove him towards the seat. That did it. Blind fury driving him, Mark shoved him, hard.

Caught off guard, Cummings stumbled, crashing heavily to the floor. ‘You prat,’ he growled, heaving himself upright.

Mark clenched his fist at his side, itching to punch the bastard’s lights out as Cummings advanced on him. ‘Don’t,’ he warned him.

‘And who’s going to stop me? You?’ Cummings taunted. ‘Finally lost it, haven’t we, Cain? Knew you would, eventually. Didn’t have to do much other than wait around, did I?’

Mark looked him over, making no attempt to hide the contempt in his eyes. ‘Like falsify evidence, you mean? You’re a fucking disgrace, Cummings.’

‘That’s rich,’ Cummings sneered, ‘coming from someone who gets his kicks fiddling with kids. I would say your own kids, but you don’t know they are yours, do you?’

Mark narrowed his eyes. Where was this shit coming from?

‘So why rape the babysitter?’ Cummings asked, goading him on. Just couldn’t resist, could he, the arrogant prick. ‘I’d have thought she wouldn’t do it for you, given she’s over the age of consent?’

‘Does it for you though, doesn’t she, Cummings? Did she make this allegation before or after you two had had sex, I wonder?’ Mark put two and two together and presumably got a correct four, judging by the now smug look on the other man’s face. ‘You really are a gullible git, Cummings. She’s been using you, feeding you information. Wrong information. Do you honestly think she wanted you for your sexual prowess?’

Cummings smiled languidly, still every inch the cocky bastard he was. ‘At least I don’t have to resort to raping women and kids.’

Mark clenched his jaw. ‘You’ll get yours, Cummings. It’s only a matter of time before someone realises you’re lifting drugs from the evidence room.’

Cummings shrugged indifferently. ‘Nothing major. No one’s likely to miss it. I must admit you did put the wind up me a couple of times. You got way too close to catching me in the act when I picked up Tanya Stevens.’

‘Which is why you assaulted her presumably?’ Mark asked casually. ‘Distraction technique?’

Cummings smirked. ‘Worked, didn’t it?’

‘It might have done, Cummings,’ DCI Edwards said calmly behind him. ‘If you hadn’t got quite so cocky with it.’

Paling, Cummings shot around to face him. ‘It was self-defence, sir,’ he said quickly. ‘I had to use force to restrain her. She—’

‘Out!’ Edwards ordered him.

Cummings hesitated for a second, then, noting the livid look in Edwards’ eye, stepped past him and walked apprehensively towards the door.

‘Mark.’ Edwards looked at him, his expression not quite so openly scathing as it had been. ‘The doctor’s arrived.’ He glanced awkwardly away again. ‘If you’re ready?’

‘Would it make any difference if I wasn’t?’ Mark asked him disappointedly.

There was definitely sympathy in the man’s eyes now, probably because he was about to undergo the humiliation of being swabbed, prodded and poked. But when Edwards turned to the door, it was to find a uniform barrelling into him from the other side.

‘Sorry, sir,’ the man said quickly. ‘Moyes called in. DS Moyes. The call was cut short, but she said something about a babysitter? There’s also been an emergency call. A little girl. We managed to keep her on the line for a while. Looks like she was calling from the same location.’

His house. Mark’s blood froze in his veins.