For fuck’s sake. Rachel rolled off Shirelle and planted one hand between her shoulder blades to keep her prone.
‘I am the police,’ Rachel said.
‘Yeah, right, and I’m the Queen of Sheba.’ The guy looked around, inviting the clot of onlookers to share his derision. The Whippet was using her phone camera.
‘If you want a witness,’ she said loudly to Shirelle, ‘it’s all on here, darling.’
Oh, frigging perfect, Rachel thought, be all over YouTube.
Rachel reached for her warrant card and swung it around with her free hand. ‘Satisfied?’
Some of the crowd melted away but most stayed for the sideshow while Rachel dragged Shirelle to her feet and said, ‘I am arresting you on suspicion of the possession of banned substances with intent to supply. You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence against you.’
The Asian guy stood his ground, face still like a smacked arse, mouth pursed, shaking his head as if deeply disappointed in Rachel and how she’d conducted herself.
Shirelle looked worse in the clear light of day, her face more swollen. Stitches ran across the deeper cuts over her eyelid and cheek and lip. She had lost teeth too, gaps at the front. Livid bruises on her forearms and hands. Rachel imagined the blows, smashing the girl against the hard ground. Boots or fists or bats?
Nevertheless Shirelle had been examined by the police doctor and found fit for interview. A duty solicitor was present. Rachel stated the grounds under which Shirelle had been arrested, and cautioned her.
‘You know we searched your flat,’ Rachel said. ‘We found a number of items banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act.’
Shirelle gave a small sigh.
‘Can you tell me why you had these drugs in your possession?’
‘No.’ Her voice painfully hoarse.
‘What were you doing at Stanley Keane’s? Getting stocked up?’
‘No,’ Shirelle said quickly.
‘Is he responsible for your injuries?’
‘No.’
‘We can help, you know. You don’t have to deal with it on your own. And we can keep you safe, if that’s what you’re worried about. Keane works with Marcus Williams, doesn’t he? The Williamses of this world, they sit up there, king of the shit heap, raking in the money, calling the shots, but it’s people like you always pay the price. I don’t think that’s fair.’
The girl was unmoved.
Rachel said, ‘I want to talk to you again about Victor and Lydia. We know they were dealing, I think you were supplying them. Is that the case?’