‘I understand that. But there are ways to go about this without making things more difficult for the Dohertys. And, Ingrid, you have to consider if you could be making things more difficult for yourself,’ DS King says. ‘There will be a family liaison officer with Bernie Doherty at all times. We will know if you do try to make contact. You can be sure if we are watching then others are watching, too.’

‘You’ve been targeted three times in the space of the last week,’ DI Bradley interjects as if I’m not only too aware that I have already attracted the wrong kind of attention. ‘At the moment, we have nothing to identify who is responsible and can only assume the messages left are intended to warn you off any further reporting on this case. Given the varied locations of the incidents, we have reason enough to believe that someone may already be following your movements.’

The lead weight in the pit of my stomach feels heavier. A wave of nausea washes over me.

‘We will of course try to find whoever is responsible for this, Ingrid, but you do have to consider how much you want to bait these people,’ he adds.

I’m not used to letting intimidatory tactics get the better of me, but this time they just might.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Ingrid

My mechanic has called and told me my car is ready and waiting for me in Foyleside car park with four new tyres. He doesn’t ask about what happened; he just tells me I can settle the bill with him on Monday.

‘There’ll be an extra charge,’ he says, ‘for a Saturday call-out.’

I don’t argue, I just agree that I’ll sort it as soon as possible. All I really want to do now is to collect my car and get home, where I can lock the door and stay safe and warm. But there’s also a comfort in being among the crowds of Saturday shoppers. The Foyleside Shopping Centre is thronged with families out beginning their Halloween celebrations and shopping for decorations and costumes.

Halloween is not done in any half measure in Derry. It’s a week-long festival of family-friendly workshops, events that bring the city’s historic walls to life with fire breathers and acrobats, light shows and storytellers. Thousands of tourists flock to the city for the big day itself, which always culminates in a huge firework display over the River Foyle.

It’s as far removed from what it was like twenty-five years ago as it is ever likely to get. Back then it was very much a fledgling festival, a night of music in town. Children still focused on their own streets and their own celebrations.