DI Wright dispatched Mills to get the statement from Mrs Grant; he dispatched another officer to speak to Johnny Brogan and then he headed to Ashfordly for an urgent meeting with Inspector Webb and Oscar Blaketon.

He was conscious of chilly stares from the constables in the duty room. He gritted his teeth and went down to Blaketon's office, striding in without knocking.

"Sir. Thank you for coming so promptly," Webb said politely.

"I have sent DS Mills to take a statement from Mrs –"

"Grant. Sir.

"Grant. Firstly though, Sergeant Blaketon, why were you in attendance at her home anyway? The investigation is being conducted by my team. We were aware Mrs Grant had not been spoken to during the door to door enquiry but we were led to believe she was away."

"With respect, sir, given the severity of the situation with PC Rowan, myself and my lads were not prepared to sit back and do nothing. Again, with respect, the situation with Mrs Grant wasn't confirmed. As to whether she was actually away or not."

"Sergeant Blaketon does have a point, sir," Webb said mildly. "In any event, his involvement has been to good effect, as it turns out. Now our only concern is getting the news to PC Rowan. And Sergeant Blaketon would like to do that himself, sir."

Just then there was a knock on the door. Alf Ventress came in.

"Messages, sarge," he said. "First off, Johnny Brogan has admitted just before breaking into the house at Grove Terrace Derek Brogan got into a run in with another lad over a lass. He's being picked up – goes by the name of Luke Jeffreys. Nasty bit of work he is by all accounts. Johnny Brogan lied about it because he's frightened of Jeffreys with good reason. Second, the pathologist reckons that the thumping Derek got off Jeffreys might have weakened the aneurysm and the second bang on the head when he fell against the alleyway wall finished the job but that's going to be a bit hard to prove."

"Either way Jeffreys will be good for the assault," Webb observed.

"And Johnny Brogan is good for wasting police time," Wright snapped.

"Well I'll leave that to you sir," Blaketon said politely. "Right now, I'm going to go and collect my constable and take him home. Sir."

Sergeant Harris at Scarborough had been forewarned but asked to say nothing to Nick. He understood. If one of his lads had been in that position he would have wanted to speak to himself.

When Oscar Blaketon came in with Inspector Webb, Harris came to greet them. "I've not said owt to him Oscar," he said. "I'm glad you got it all sorted out. Your lad is in No.3." He handed him the keys.

Blaketon unlocked the cell door and went in. Nick was lying down under his blankets, he glanced over at his Sergeant but did not sit up.

"Whatever strings you've pulled to get in here - you shouldn't have done this Sarge. Its not worth risking your job over," Nick said flatly.

"I'm risking nothing. Come on, sit yourself up."

Nick did as he was told eyeing Blaketon warily.

"Charges have been dropped, lad. We found a witness."

"There wasn't a witness."

"Aye. So it seemed. Only one person had been missed off on t' house to house. It were thought she were away. But I went round on t'off chance and lady was home. I spoke to her. She's in her eighties, nervy. She lives at 1 Holroyd and her gate faces into the ginnel where it happened. She were out last night getting her cat in and she saw it all happen. Just as you said. Only she were that frightened she just went in, quiet like, and didn't say owt."

"Brogan was full of bruises. How did he get those?"

"His cousin admitted Derek Brogan got in a fight with another lad , Jeffreys, – who does have a bit of form – and Brogan definitely come off worst. Apparently his cousin didn't want to grass on this Jeffreys as he thought he'd be next for a hiding if he did." Blaketon sighed. "Also, pathologist thinks the aneurysm might have started to rupture then and the second bang on t'head he had just finished the job. You had nowt to do wi' his death Nick."

Nick wearily leaned his head against the wall of the cell. It all seemed too much to take in.

"What happens now?"

"I'm taking you home, lad. That's what's happening now."

Nick seemed almost unable to take it in. He went mechanically through the formalities which had to be done but hardly reacted when Webb spoke to him. Out in the car he hardly spoke when Blaketon tried to talk to him and in the end the Sergeant left it alone sensing Nick needed a little time.

Kate was waiting by the gate as the car drew up. She ran to Nick as he got out of the car and flung her arms round him.

Blaketon watched, waited.

"Thank you," Kate mouthed to him.

He nodded.

He watched the pair walk slowly up to the police house, and shut the door behind them. He got back into the car and wearily just for a moment rested his head on the steering wheel.

Then he sat up, put the car into gear and set off back to Ashfordly.