The almost impossible quiz show is infuriating, yet I can’t stop watching, though I haven’t got a question correct yet. I am about to go to the toilet when my phone begins the ring.

‘Angela?’

‘Boss!’ she sounds breathless. ‘Rory is on the move, his car triggered one of the cameras in the west of the city about ten minutes ago. I’ve already got in touch with officers in the vicinity and they are keeping an eye out. I’ll let you know if we get him.’

She hangs up before I have a chance to reply. My stomach tightens at the thought of Rory’s capture. The net is closing in. Time for a celebratory drink. I push myself off the sofa and head to the kitchen, picking a chilled bottle of white wine from the fridge. As I pop the cork, I hear my phone vibrate against the wooden table.

I leave the open wine bottle and race into the living room, snatching the phone to my ear without looking at the screen.

‘Have we got him?’ I say, a little louder than I meant to.

There is no reply from the other end of the phone, though I can hear heavy breathing. I pull the phone away from my ear and am surprised when I realise it is a call from an unknown number. I thought it was Angela with good news.

‘Hello?’ I say into the phone, elongating the word like I’m in a film.

‘DI Piper?’ whispers a voice. I assure them that it is who they think it is a wait for them to speak again.

‘It’s Ed,’ he says, still in a whisper, ‘I think there is someone in my house.’

My mind springs straight to Rory. His car has been spotted in the region of the city where Ed’s house is, and if Rory is set on continuing his killing spree, it seems probable that Ed would be next on his list, having been involved, however tenuously in the creation of Blood Ice.

Rory might even believe that Ed is the most blameworthy, having created the universe that the film took place in. Without Ed’s Threat trilogy, there might never have been any of these murders.

‘Okay, tell me what’s happening,’ I reply.

There’s another minute of silence before he whispers his answer. ‘I heard a huge crash from downstairs, sounded like the door was being kicked in.’

‘And where are you now?’

‘Upstairs. I’m in the…’ he trails off.

I wait for him to talk again, not wanting to disturb him. When he speaks again, it’s almost inaudible. ‘I think he’s coming upstairs.’

There’s a shuffling noise and I assume that Ed is attempting to conceal himself as best he can. This is followed by loud thuds, which sound like heavy footsteps.

‘YOU!’ shouts Ed, all of a sudden, making me jump.

There appears to be a struggle on the other end of the phone before he can finish his sentence. There’s some grunting and shouting as the fight continues and a few seconds later, the line goes dead.