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She forced a smile. ‘I’m a simple gal.’

‘What do you know?’

‘Only what you and my solicitor told me,’ she replied. ‘You said not to say anything and she said the same.’

‘And you haven’t?’

She shook her head. A teardrop fell free and landed on Poe’s arm. He touched it. The moment felt intimate.

‘Have you seen the evidence?’ he asked. ‘I have.’

‘And your solicitor?’

‘They’ve disclosed everything, I’m told.’

‘What does she think?’

‘The lack of a murder weapon isn’t enough for a not-guilty verdict.’

‘I agree,’ Poe said. ‘I’ll need you to call her and get me assigned as a criminal defence investigator. Tell her I’ll do it for free.’

‘Don’t you have other cases?’

‘Nothing this important.’

Tai-young Lee knocked, then opened the door. She handed them cups of tea.

‘Thank you, ma’am.’

‘I’ll leave you to it, Poe,’ she said. ‘Take as long as you need. Nothing’s happening until tomorrow.’

Poe waited until the door had shut before saying, ‘Has tomorrow been explained to you?’

‘It has,’ Doyle said. ‘I’m not sure it’s actually sunk in though.’

‘You’ll be transported to Newcastle Magistrates’ Court in a prison van. You’ll stay in the court cells and you’ll see your solicitor. When your case is called you’ll be handcuffed to a dull-eyed security guard and taken upstairs. You’ll be presented to the court behind security glass. This will be public and there’ll be press there.’

‘They know already?’

‘Not unless it’s been leaked,’ Poe said. ‘But the press are always at court.’

He didn’t add that the deaths of Kane Hunt and Harrison Cummings would be dominating the news this week. She’d caught a small break, but there was no point saying this. The press would make time for her eventually.

‘The CPS solicitor will read out the charges and you’ll be asked to confirm your name and address,’ he continued. ‘You don’t have to answer but there’s no reason not to.’

‘And then do I plead not guilty?’

‘No. Magistrates can’t hear murder cases so they’ll commit it to Crown Court. It’s there you’ll enter your plea.’

‘Will I come back here afterwards?’

‘No. You’ll be remanded in custody and that means you’ll go to HMP Low Newton. It’s a women’s prison near Durham.’

‘How long will I be there for?’

‘Until I convince a judge to bail you. And I’m starting on that right now.’

‘Starting what?’

Poe fixed his eyes on hers. ‘Pulling their case to bits,’ he said.