‘I just want whoever did this to be behind bars where they belong. Until that happens, I can’t see me getting a moment’s peace.’

Of the police investigation, she said: ‘It’s been almost a week and I don’t think they’re any further forward. People are at risk and that’s what worries me. How many more families will have to go through the hell the Taylors are going through?’

A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said the investigation was continuing, with all available resources at the disposal of the inquiry team.

‘This was a brutal murder and one which, rightly, has aroused a deep feeling of revulsion within the community. Police are doing everything in their power to bring the person or persons responsible to justice.

‘Again, we would ask anyone with any information that may lead to the arrest of those responsible to come forward.

‘Police are particularly interested in speaking to the man Ms Taylor was believed to be dating at the time of her death.’

They refused to comment on the delivery of sinister notes and gifts to several parties in the city.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Rachel

It was Monday morning and I was strapping Molly into her car seat. Paul had left for Belfast an hour early. We hadn’t spoken to each other since the day before and I’d been glad to see him leave. The tension had been almost suffocating.

I shouted through the open front door of the house to Beth to get a move on before climbing into the driver’s seat to wait for her.

‘Your sister’ll be late for school and Mammy’ll be late for work if she doesn’t get a wriggle on,’ I said to Molly, who’d started wriggling furiously in her seat.

‘I’m wriggling on, Mammy,’ she said. ‘So we can go superfast.’

I smiled at her innocence and how she took me at my word about everything. It used to be like that with Beth, before we had these morning shouting sessions to get her in the car in time. I was just about to get out of the car and walk back to the house to call her again, when I saw Constable King accompanied by DI Bradley walking up the driveway towards the house. They had serious expressions on their faces and my heart sank.

‘Mammy, that police lady’s here again,’ Molly called. ‘Do we have more flowers to give away?’

‘Mrs Walker,’ DI Bradley said, ‘would you mind if we went inside and had a word?’

‘Is everything okay?’ I asked, which seemed like a bit of a stupid question.

‘We really should talk about this inside,’ he said and I nodded.

My heart was thumping as I took Molly from the car just as Beth was walking out of the front door.

‘What’s going on?’ she asked, her face ashen.