She took a seat at the island unit, Michael and Sarah on either side of her. The worktop between them was clear except for Michael’s glass. Levy lifted it to her nose and sniffed deeply.

‘Bushmills?’

‘No idea.’ Sarah looked to her right. Towards the bottle on the side worktop. She read the label. ‘Actually yeah. Good nose.’

‘Good guess, anyway. Do you mind if I join?’

Levy indicated to Michael’s glass as she spoke.

‘On duty?’ Sarah asked.

‘Aren’t I always?’ Levy replied, dispirited.

The death of Derek Reid was a sucker punch. It was bad enough that another innocent man was dead because she had failed to find his killer. But it was made all the worse because the same man had been under police protection until last night.

If there was ever a time I needed a drink . . .

Sarah stood up without another word and poured two more glasses.

‘I might as well join you too,’ Sarah said as she pushed a glass towards Levy.

Levy drank gratefully, welcoming the comforting burn of the whiskey, all the while aware that Michael was watching her intently.

‘Where are you moving Anne Flaherty?’ he asked abruptly, as soon as the glass was away from her lips.

Michael had no time for pleasantries. Not today. Levy could understand that. After the devastation of Derek Reid, the priority was the safety of his family.

‘We aren’t,’ Levy replied. ‘We are going to keep a protection detail in your home. For all three of you. I assumed that was right?’

‘No.’ Michael’s tone was sure. ‘Hirst can’t be underestimated. I don’t want my family kept anywhere that’s been associated with any of us before today.’

‘Michael, don’t you think—’

‘Just trust me, Sarah.’ Michael stopped the interruption midstream without a glance. He kept his eyes on Levy. ‘It has to be somewhere completely new.’

Levy nodded her assent. It was rare for her to defer to a civilian once she had decided on a course of action. But Michael had been through hell today. And in the last few hours Levy had learned a lot about Michael Devlin that she had not known before. If a man with his experience said extra precautions were needed, Levy was sure as hell going to take them.

‘Thomas.’ Levy raised her voice as she called out the name, directing it towards the kitchen door and prompting Detective Inspector Thomas Chadwick to enter the room.

‘Call the head of the protection detail at Mr Devlin and Miss Truman’s home. Tell them that they are to escort Miss Flaherty to Scotland Yard. They’re to make sure she’s comfortable. And in the meantime I want a suitable safe house sourced, for the family to occupy until this is over.’

Levy turned back to Michael.

‘Good enough?’

‘Good enough,’ Michael replied.

‘OK.’ Levy returned her attention to Chadwick. ‘Get that done as a priority, Thomas. Right now.’

‘Ma’am.’

Chadwick left without another word. The MIT chain of command in action.