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‘And she still said nothing?’ Stacey asked in disbelief as Kim recounted the story.

‘Not a word. She just got into the car and is now being processed downstairs,’ Kim said, taking a sip of coffee.

She didn’t mention the line of police officers she’d arranged into a shield to cover the short distance from the tent to the police car. The last thing they needed was that photo turning up in the national press, although she was pretty sure the story was heading that way. Cases of brutal matricide always captured the public’s attention.

‘Any idea why she snapped?’ Penn asked.

‘Nothing obvious. Home looks perfectly normal.’

‘No previous calls for domestic issues or disturbances,’ Stacey confirmed.

‘Fancy being stabbed with your own carving knife,’ Penn added. ‘A kitchen utensil used every Sunday for?—’

‘Penn, you really do focus on the strangest things,’ Bryant said, shaking his head.

Kim checked her watch. It had been twenty minutes since she’d called for the duty brief.

Despite the glazed remoteness, it was clear that Katie Hawne had killed her own mother, and Kim had to consider that the strange behaviour was part of a premeditated plan to adopt a diminished responsibility defence. She was absolutely playing this one by the book and there would be no interview without legal representation.

‘Okay, guys, while we wait?—’

Kim was interrupted by Bryant’s internal phone.

He answered it, nodded and passed it to her.

‘Stone.’

‘Yeah, you might want to come downstairs,’ the custody sergeant advised her.

‘Brief here already?’ she asked hopefully.

‘Err…no. And I think you’re gonna want more than the brief when you get down here.’

Kim handed the phone back to Bryant and headed to the stairs. What the hell was she being called down to? Was the prisoner holding one of the officers hostage with a hair grip she’d secreted?

She opened the door that led to the custody suite forcefully, almost hitting a constable. A further eight officers lined the corridor that led to the cells. At the far end stood Katie Hawne, still handcuffed, but something had changed. Her eyes were alive, bright, animated.

‘Ah, perfect. A lady judge. Always smile at the ladies but give a little wink to the men,’ Katie said in a voice that was steady and confident.

She began to walk the corridor with the poise of a supermodel, turning her head to the left then to the right, offering a dazzling smile to every officer she passed.

She reached Kim and paused.

‘Take just three seconds to make eye contact with the judges, smile brightly and exit stage left,’ she said, turning and swishing the ballgown behind her.

The officers looked Kim’s way for guidance, but she shook her head, telling them to do nothing. Katie was cuffed in a room full of officers and was going nowhere. Kim wanted to see how this played out and was busy looking for signs of deception.

Katie sashayed to the far end of the corridor and turned again. This time her smile was childlike, hopeful.

‘Did I win? Was I perfect?’

Kim tried not to let the shock register on her face.

‘Katie, do you understand where you are?’ she asked.

Instantly the light in her eyes vanished. She looked down at herself and a small cry of surprise sounded from her lips. She looked around at all the faces staring at her. Her expression contorted in horror.

‘No, no, no, no, no,’ she cried as she started to claw at the fabric of the dress. Sequins flew and seams ripped as she fought to get the material away from her skin as though it was scalding her. In the process, she’d exposed most of the upper half of her body, including a flesh-coloured bra that was now in disarray and very revealing.

Kim rushed to her side and pulled the dress back around her, shielding her from view with her own body.

‘Somebody, get me some clothes,’ she shouted over her shoulder. ‘And the rest of you piss off.’

‘On it, marm,’ one of the voices called back as Katie leaned against the wall and slid to the ground.

Kim followed her down and kept her covered.

‘What have I done?’ Katie whispered against her arm.

Kim met her gaze, but the woman’s eyes had returned to staring mode.

‘Someone buzz the on-call doc,’ Kim instructed. The only emotion resting on Katie’s face was despair, and Kim needed no further convincing.

This woman was not putting on an act.