'Now,' said Frost, stepping back into the corridor.

Eyes smouldering, she followed him out, closing the door firmly behind her. He had no business interfering in the middle of an interview. 'I very much resent-'

He held up a hand. 'Hear me out.' He lowered his voice. 'I don't think you're going to make this one stick, love.'

'No?' She gave him a superior smile. 'I've checked his form. He was convicted of assaulting two women in his cab. They couldn't pay the fare, so he beat them up – put one of them in hospital.'

Frost nodded. He knew all about that. 'But did you check the victim's form?'

She frowned. What was the fool on about? 'The victim?'

'Old mother Beatty. According to her, her drawers have been up and down more times than Tower Bridge. She's alleged rape and assault at least twelve times over the past two years, all of which have proved wishful thinking. She also reckons she gets heavy breathing phone calls, peeping Toms when she strips off in the scullery, and is being stalked.' He offered her the long computer print-out.

Liz flicked through it, lips tightening angrily. 'She sounded so genuine! I believed her.'

'She believes herself half the time,' said Frost.

Liz glowered at the interview room door. 'I could wring her bloody neck!'

'Don't be too hard on the poor cow. She's never had it… she's probably never going to get it so she has to imagine she's had it.'

'Never had it? Are you telling me she's a virgin?'

'So the doctor said the last three times she was raped.'

Liz handed back the print-out. 'So what do we do? If she insists, we've got to go ahead.'

I'll go and sweet talk the old cow,' said Frost. 'You do a bit of back-pedalling with the cabbie; we don't want him suing for wrongful arrest.' It was then he noticed how tired and drawn she looked. 'Are you all right, love?'