‘Yeah. Work. It’s a little crazy at the moment.’ Understatement of the century.

‘What do you do?’

Their first proper conversation and here, just a few moments into it, was his first lie. ‘I’m a researcher,’ he replied.

‘University?’

‘Freelance.’

She looked at him. Her light blue eyes were captivating. ‘Can I get you a coffee?’ she asked.

‘No, thanks,’ Jameson replied. ‘I’ve got to …’ He held the phone up; he needed to finish this.

‘It’s no problem. I’ll get you a take-out. What do you have?’

‘Just a latte.’

‘Just a latte it is then, James.’

‘Jameson. Marcus Jameson.’

She held out her hand. ‘Something. Sarah Something.’

Jameson laughed and shook her hand, this first physical contact pinching in the pit of his stomach. He wondered if she’d felt it too.

She opened the door to the cafe and he called out, ‘In case you were worried, I’m not stalking you. I just like the coffee.’

Just before the door closed behind her, he heard her say, ‘Disappointing.’

‘Why are you smiling?’ Bloom asked as Jameson walked into their office with a takeout cup and a small paper bag.

‘Because it’s a good day, Sheila,’ he said. ‘I bought croissants.’

‘Have you seen Logan’s email?’

‘Yup.’ Jameson sat down and passed a pain au chocolat across the table.

‘We can’t get any further without an access code. It’s locked up tight.’

‘I don’t like the name,’ said Jameson through a mouthful of croissant. ‘The Birthday Card Game sounds like it’s for toddlers. I vote for a rebrand. The Psychopath Collector? Maybe it’ll get more attention.’

‘Why would we want attention?’

‘Not from the public. From the police.’ Jameson wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. ‘DC Akhtar couldn’t get any CCTV from Stuart’s accident from the West Yorkshire force. Not a priority, apparently. Well, maybe they’d pay more attention if they knew we were looking for hundreds of psychopaths.’

Bloom nodded and took a bite of the croissant. ‘Thanks for this.’

Jameson winked at her.

‘What’s with you today?’ she asked. ‘You’re all … odd.’

‘I’ve got a date.’

‘Oh, I see. Well, so long as your social life is tickety-boo …’ She felt unreasonably irritated. He was allowed to go on dates, after all. But in light of what they were dealing with, romance seemed pretty unimportant right now.

‘Hey! Don’t get grumpy with me because you’re lonely and single. Be pleased that I can find good stuff to balance out the shit.’

‘I am not lonely and single.’

‘You are single though.’

‘Yes, and happy that way, thank you very much.’

‘Do you even know that for sure?’ Jameson finished his croissant and brushed the flakes into his waste-paper bin. ‘When was your last relationship?’