Hot Seat by Simon Wood

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.’
    â€˜Are you arresting me?’
    â€˜No, it’s just a caution at this stage, but I do have to make you aware of your rights.’
    â€˜What’s all this about? I want to know why you’re cautioning me. What am I being accused of?’
    â€˜Whoa, slow down. One thing at a time. The victim alleges—’
    â€˜Victim?’
    â€˜Please, Aidy. Just calm yourself. You’ll have all the time you need to respond, but let me get through the basics first. OK?’
    What had Miss Angry Renault said that had brought the police to my door?
    â€˜The victim in question alleges you crashed into her at the roundabout then drove off. When you didn’t stop, she pursued you and you proceeded to run her off the road.’
    â€˜Bullshit.’
    â€˜Mr Westlake, please.’
    â€˜I’m sorry, but nothing of the kind happened. She cut me off in traffic and I went around her. End of story. Do you think I’d drive off if I had clipped her, let alone run her off the road?’
    â€˜Mr Westlake, I don’t know you.’ Unlike me, Sergeant Lucas kept his tone level, but he’d switched to using my last name. We were no longer buddies.
    â€˜I’m a racing driver. I don’t take chances on the road. If I lose my driver’s licence, I lose my race licence. The risks are just too high.’
    Lucas nodded thoughtfully.
    â€˜This woman – what’s her name?’
    â€˜I can’t divulge that information.’
    â€˜OK. Whoever she is, she’s trying to get back at me over this roundabout thing. There’s nothing to it.’
    Lucas nodded. ‘Maybe you should look at this.’
    He removed a Polaroid from his folder and handed it to me. It was a driver’s-side shot of the Renault hatchback sitting in a field. The front windscreen was split and the side windows were missing, but that was the least of the damage. The car looked as if it had been dropped from a great height. Every body panel was bent and buckled. The door mirror dangled from a trail of wires. My mouth dropped open in shock.
    â€˜What is this?’
    â€˜I have to warn you that a number of charges are being levelled at you which include failing to stop after an accident, failing to give particulars or report an accident within twenty-four hours, driving without due care and attention, dangerous driving, furious driving and offences not covered by other codes. These are serious charges.’
    â€˜I realize that. This is insane.’
    Any two of these charges was enough to claim my driver’s licence. I didn’t have a clue how long I’d lose it for if all of them applied. My racing career was staring into an abyss.
    â€˜I don’t get any of this,’ I said. ‘I swear to you that I didn’t put a scratch on this car, let alone the damage pictured here.’
    Lucas produced the pained smile again and took the Polaroid from me.
    â€˜Don’t give me that look. This is bullshit. If I’d done that, my grandfather’s van would be a mess and my trailer would be in pieces. But they’re not. My grandfather’s out in the van right now, but the trailer’s right outside. Go look. You won’t find a dent, scratch or repair.’
    â€˜There’ll be time for that later. You’re getting excited again.’
    â€˜Wouldn’t you be?’
    â€˜Maybe I would. Let’s calm down and just go through the facts. I think if we take things logically, one step at a time, there’ll be less emotion and we’ll have everything we need to be able to make a judgement. Sound like a plan?’
    I exhaled. I appreciated what Lucas was doing. He was working with me. ‘Yeah. Sounds like a good plan.’
    â€˜OK, I need to get a formal statement