<span>There was a booming knock at the door and a louds hout. "Open up!" From inside came ther attleofalock,and then the door opened barely half an inch. A woman,dishevelled and clearly shaken,peered through hesitantly. "Can I help you?" Detective Stirland loomed large before her.He flipped open his ID badge. "Where’s Joe,Mandy?" "What’s this about?" she stammered. Stirland applied his weight to the door and the woman stepped backwards as it swung open. "I’ll ask the questions.We know he’s here." Her eyes flitted from his face to the lounge door and back. "Joe!" She folded her arms defiantly,reluctantly. "Joe, you’d better come out.The police are here."</span>