The patrol car that took them across the city to the London Docklands was even more technologically resonant of something built by NASA than the incident room. Kelly had been inside plenty of vehicles kitted out with multiple radios, blues, computers and coffee stands; but this was something else. Three TV screens were set up so they could carry on their work from the back seat. The leather interior was reminiscent of a top-end night club, and she couldn’t even hear the engine. The thing was a beast.

‘Is it armour-plated? It feels heavy.’

Matt nodded. There was a glass barrier between them and the driver, and she felt as though she were in a mobile conference suite.

‘You’re missed, Kelly. Why don’t you come back?’

‘Don’t start, Matt. I’m not in the mood.’

He smiled. ‘You haven’t lost your fire. That’s why you’re an amazing officer. You’re wasted in the sticks. I’m impressed by your track record. I did ring when you exposed that trafficking circle, and that weirdo serial killer – “the Teacher”, was it?’

‘I know you did. I ignored your calls. And stop calling Cumbria “the sticks”. It’s three hours from here on the train.’

‘Sorry. Why did you ignore me? I just wanted to offer my congratulations; they were massive cases. I actually wanted your advice about a killer in London around the same time.’

She turned away from the screens and looked at him properly for the first time. He was well built and she knew he worked out. His brown hair was thinning on top and greying at the sides. His skin was lifeless and his eyes were vacant, as if harbouring great sadness. He was nowhere near as attractive as she remembered, and she knew she must have been in love with the thrill of working cases together in a super-heated environment. She thought of Johnny: his bright, open eyes, his fell-kissed skin, and what he looked like when he stepped out of a lake. She stared out of the window and prayed the journey would be quick.

The factory was as colossal as she’d expected it to be. Companies like Ravensword turned over billions of dollars per year, and Kelly surmised that much of their profit went into the upkeep of these vast buildings across the planet. They parked in the same car park where Alexandros had made his phone call to the switchboard on Tuesday. They still had a walk of half a kilometre to the main entrance, and once inside, they showed their badges. The staff were clearly aware that the investigation into their colleagues’ deaths was in full swing, and the place was crawling with uniformed and plain-clothes police. The atmosphere was sombre.