“Christ, Maggie, if I knew the answer to that I’d-”

But before Banks could finish, his mobile rang. This time it was the PC on duty at the infirmary. Lucy Payne had just been cleared for release, and she had a solicitor with her.

“Do you know anything about this solicitor?” Banks asked Maggie when he’d finished on the phone.

She smiled sheepishly. “As a matter of fact, yes, I do.”

Banks said nothing, not trusting himself to respond in a civilized manner. Leaving his tea untouched, he bid Maggie Forrest a hurried farewell and dashed out to his car. He didn’t even stop to talk to Annie Cabbot when he saw her walking out of number 35, but managed only a quick wave before jumping in his Renault and roaring off.

Lucy Payne was sitting on the bed painting her toenails black when Banks walked in. She gave him a look and demurely pulled her skirt down over her thighs. The bandages were gone from her head, and the bruises seemed to be healing well. She had rearranged her long black hair so it covered the patch the doctor had shaved for his stitches.

Another woman stood in the room, over by the window: the solicitor. Slight in stature, with chocolate brown hair cropped almost as closely as Banks’s, and watchful, serious hazel eyes, she was dressed in a charcoal pinstriped jacket, matching skirt and a white blouse with some sort of ruffled front. She wore dark tights and shiny black pumps.

She walked over and held her hand out. “Julia Ford. I’m Lucy’s solicitor. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“A pleasure,” said Banks.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve talked to my client, is it, Superintendent?”

“No,” said Banks.

“And the last time you were accompanied by a psychologist named Dr. Fuller?”

“Dr. Fuller’s our consulting psychologist on the Chameleon task force,” said Banks.

“Just be careful, Superintendent, that’s all. I’d have very good grounds to argue that anything Dr. Fuller might have got from my client is inadmissible as evidence.”

“We weren’t gathering evidence,” said Banks. “Lucy was questioned as a witness, and as a victim. Not as a suspect.”

“A fine line, Superintendent, should matters change. And now?”

Banks glanced at Lucy, who had resumed painting her toenails, seeming indifferent to the banter between her solicitor and Banks. “I wasn’t aware you thought you needed a solicitor, Lucy,” he said.

Lucy looked up. “It’s in my best interests. They’re discharging me this morning. Soon as the paperwork’s done, I can go home.”

Banks looked at Julia Ford in exasperation. “I hope you haven’t encouraged her in this fantasy?”

Julia raised her eyebrows. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Banks turned back to Lucy. “You can’t go home, Lucy,” he explained. “Your house is being taken apart brick by brick by forensic experts. Have you any concept of what happened there?”

“Of course I have,” said Lucy. “Terry hit me. He knocked me out and put me in hospital.”

“But Terry’s dead now, isn’t he?”

“Yes. So?”

“That changes things, doesn’t it?”

“Look,” said Lucy. “I’ve been abused, and I’ve just lost my husband. Now you’re telling me I’ve lost my home, too?”

“For the time being.”

“Well, what am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go?”

“How about your foster parents, Linda?”

Lucy’s look let Banks know that she hadn’t missed the emphasis. “I don’t seem to have much choice, do I?”

“Anyway, it won’t be a problem for a while yet,” Banks went on. “We found traces of Kimberley Myers’s blood on the sleeves of your dressing gown, along with some yellow fibers under your fingernails. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do before you go anywhere.”

Lucy looked alarmed. “What do you mean?”

Julia Ford narrowed her eyes and looked at Banks. “What he means, Lucy, is that he’s going to take you in to the police station for questioning.”

“Can he do that?”

“I’m afraid so, Lucy.”

“And he can keep me there?”

“Under the PACE regulations, he can, yes, if he’s not satisfied with the answers you give him. For twenty-four hours. But there are very strict guidelines. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“You mean I could be in prison for a whole day? In a cell?”

“Don’t be alarmed, Lucy,” said Julia, stepping over and touching her client’s arm. “Nothing bad will happen to you. Those days are gone now. You’ll be well looked after.”

“But I’ll be in prison!”

“Possibly. It all depends.”

“But I haven’t done anything!” She gave Banks an angry look, black eyes burning like coals. “I’m the victim here. Why are you picking on me?”

“Nobody’s picking on you, Lucy,” said Banks. “There’s a lot of questions need answering, and we think you can help us.”

“I’ll answer your questions. I’m not refusing to cooperate. You don’t have to take me to the police station for that. Besides, I’ve already answered them.”

“Hardly. There’s a lot more we need to know, and there are certain formalities, procedures to be followed. Anyway, it’s all changed now that Terry’s died, hasn’t it?”

Lucy looked away. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You can speak freely now. You don’t have to be afraid of him.”

“Oh, I see.”

“What did you think I meant, Lucy?”

“Nothing.”

“That you could change your story? Just deny everything?”

“I told you. Nothing.”

“But there’s the blood to explain now. And the yellow fibers. We know you were in the cellar. We can prove it.”

“I don’t know anything about that. I don’t remember.”

“Very convenient. Aren’t you sorry Terry’s dead, Lucy?”

Lucy packed her nail polish away in her handbag. “Of course I am. But he beat me up. It was him who put me here, him who got me into all this trouble with the police. It’s not my fault. None of it’s my fault. I haven’t done anything wrong. Why should I have to be the one who suffers?”

Banks shook his head and stood up. “Maybe we’d better just go.”

Lucy looked over to Julia Ford.

“I’ll come with you,” said Julia. “I’ll be present when you’re questioned and nearby in case you need me.”

Lucy managed a weak smile. “But you won’t stay in the cell with me?”

Julia smiled back, then looked at Banks. “I’m afraid they don’t make doubles, Lucy.”

“That’s right,” said Banks. “Like girls, do you, Lucy?”

“There was no need for that, Superintendent,” Julia Ford said. “And I’ll thank you to keep any more questions you might have until we’re in the interview room.”

Lucy just glared at Banks.

“Anyway,” Julia Ford went on, turning back to Lucy. “Let’s not be pessimistic. It might not come to that.” She turned to Banks. “Might I suggest, Superintendent, that we leave by a discreet exit? You can’t have failed to notice the media presence.”

“It’s a big story for them,” Banks said. “But yes, that’s a good idea. I’ve got another one, too.”

“Oh?”

“That we take Lucy to Eastvale for questioning. You and I know damn well that Millgarth will be a zoo once the press find out she’s there. This way we’ve got a chance of avoiding all that chaos, at least for a while.”

Julia Ford thought for moment, then looked at Lucy. “It’s a good idea,” she said.

“Will you come to Eastvale with me? I’m scared.”

“Of course.” Julia looked at Banks. “I’m sure the Superintendent here can recommend a decent hotel?”

“But how could she possibly know I’m seeing you?” Maggie asked Dr. Susan Simms at the start of her session that afternoon.

“I’ve no idea, but you can be certain I didn’t tell anyone. And I told her nothing.”

“I know,” said Maggie. “Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it, dear. It’s a matter of professional ethics. This implied support of yours for Lucy Payne, is it true?”

Maggie felt her anger bristle again as she remembered her argument with Banks that morning. She still felt upset by it. “I think Lucy’s been a victim of abuse, yes.”