‘Good news?’ Johnny asked. She turned to him. He’d lost his lustre. Something had gone, she could tell. She reached to take his hand.

‘I’m hoping that I might finally have a break.’ She stopped walking and made a call to Eden House to process the warrant; they had enough to get a magistrate to turn it around quickly. It was a quick call.

‘What makes someone so fucked up that they go round killing strangers for kicks?’ Johnny asked, as they set off again. They were alone on the track and could speak freely. Kelly had left Kate and Rob in charge, happy that the scene was secure and as sterile as possible. Forensics were combing the area on hands and knees. She could tell that Johnny was moving into an angry phase of processing what had happened. It was necessary.

‘Where do I start? Childhood trauma? Abuse? Growing up thinking that hurting people and animals is normal.’ She thought about what she just said and realised that something Demi told her made sense. Serial murderers often hurt animals in their early years, often starting as children. They then seemed to travel a path of gruesome graduation to human beings: sometimes random, sometimes loved ones. It was a mirror image of The Teacher’s childhood. She thought about Jock Harris. There was still no sign of him.

‘Will you come on a short detour with me to Raven Crag?’

‘What for?’

‘That’s where the address is.’

‘Am I supposed to accompany you?’

‘You’re an important witness, and valuable to the case. More importantly, it’s an opportunity being over this side of the National Park. Apparently there were some vehicles in garages and I want to know if one of them is a Fiat camper. You can identify it for me. I feel safer when you’re around,’ she added. He stopped and turned to her. They embraced and she let the tension leave her body. She desperately wanted to distract him.

‘I’ve been thinking about our holiday,’ he said.

‘Really?’

‘I’m not sure if we should go and leave Josie, now.’

They started to walk again.

‘I understand. Why don’t we wait and see? It’d be good for her to spend time with Ted. He has a calm and secure way about him that rubs off on those around him. He’s like therapy, or at least he is for me.’

‘Josie really loves him.’

‘I know she does, and he spoils her rotten.’

He smiled and nodded. ‘Maybe it’s me, I don’t want to risk leaving her, rather than it being to protect her.’

‘You’re bound to be even more protective of her now. It’s natural.’