Logan shifted in his seat and tried not to make eye contact, just in case someone dragged him even further into this mess than he already was. Insch took the blue chill-pack off his knuckles for long enough to pick up the faxed complaint and give it a brief once over. Then tossed it back down again. 'Well, Inspector?' The CC leant on the table, looming over Insch. 'Care to tell us how this handcuffed prisoner provoked you?' 'He killed my daughter.' 'He ...' The Chief Constable slammed his palm down. 'Have you any idea what you've done? Have you?' He turned and pointed at the Procurator Fiscal. 'Tell him. Tell him what you told me.' The PF had put on her pink tweed outfit today; the cheery colour didn't go with the expression on her face. 'By assaulting Wiseman in prison you've opened up a line of attack for his defence. Now they can claim your actions prove you'll do anything for revenge. That nothing you say can be trusted.' 'Do you understand, Inspector? You've compromised this case.' The CC turned his back on the room, arms folded, glaring out of the boardroom window. 'Everything you say happened in your house is now suspect in the eyes of a jury. Instead of abduction and torture and illegal imprisonment, we'll be lucky to get causing death by reckless driving!' Insch nodded. Not saying a word. 'I knew it was a mistake letting you come back to work. Consider yourself suspended without pay.' He turned and addressed Logan. 'I take it Ken Wiseman wants to press charges?' Logan coughed. 'Well, maybe we--' 'Does he want to press charges?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Then we have no choice. Sergeant, take DI Insch down to the cell block and process him.' 'But--' The CC stopped him with a finger. 'No. No buts. I will not turn a blind eye to one of my officers attacking a prisoner. I want him processed and stuck in a cell until the first available court slot tomorrow. Just like any other criminal.' 'Sir, Wiseman killed his daughter, surely--' 'I'm not going to ask you again, Sergeant.' 'It's OK,' said Insch, hauling himself to his feet,'I'd do the same if it was one of my team.' He stood for a moment in silence. 'Will you have to release him?' The PF suddenly found the buttons on her pink suit of all-consuming interest. 'We're going to have to talk about that with his solicitor. But it's possible.' Insch turned and walked from the room.
Logan took Insch's fingerprints and DNA sample in the little breezeblock cupboard laughingly referred to as the 'processing suite' in the basement of FHQ. 'Do you want me to call Miriam?'
