For several minutes the only sounds in the undersized kitchen came from Jessica. None of them words, but still they said enough.

Hale did not want to interrupt. He wanted to give Jessica the time she needed. But he knew that he did not have that choice.

‘Jessica?’ When Hale spoke again his voice was softer than before. ‘Jessica, I know how much of a shock this must be to you. I know how you must be feeling. But we’re here to protect you. We’re here to make sure Hirst can’t get anywhere near you. And I’m here to bring you to London. To Scotland Yard. Where you’ll be as protected as anyone can be, for as long as it takes us to find him.’

Jessica moved her hands away from her face, cupping her left with her right as she did so. She sat upright, making no attempt to wipe away the tears or mascara that now stained her cheeks.

‘Then you really think he’s coming for me?’ Her voice was stronger now. As if she was becoming resigned to her own recurring nightmare.

‘Actually we don’t.’ Hale slowly reached out and placed his own hand on top of Jessica’s right. Careful not to touch her left. ‘We don’t have any reason to think that he knows where you are. We don’t even think he knows your new name, Jessica. We’re just not taking any risks.’

Jessica sat back in her chair, took her hands out from under Hale’s, placed her left on her lap and used her right to wipe her eyes. For a few moments she was lost in thought while Hale watched. He could see that she was steeling herself for more. Finally she broke the silence.

‘What has he done?’ Jessica’s voice was weak once again. As if asking the question had taken all of her strength. ‘Hirst, I mean.’

‘I’ll tell you, Jessica. But when I do, please remember that he has no way of finding you.’

‘I . . . I know that.’

‘OK. Then what he seems to have done, Jessica – what he seems to be doing – is tracking down everyone involved in his trial. Everyone he blames for sending him to prison for your brother’s death.’

‘My God!’ Jessica’s right hand covered her mouth. The tears returned. ‘Who . . . who . . . who has he found?’

‘Everyone but you and Michael Devlin.’

‘And what has he done to them?’

‘I, erm, I really don’t think you need to know the details of that . . . But I’m afraid they’re dead. Hirst killed them all.’

‘NO!’

Jessica stood up from her chair. For the first time she made no effort to hide her left hand. Her terror was clear on her face and her tiny body shook as she fought to take a breath. Stepping backwards, she lost her footing and began to fall. Hale – already rising – saw the stumble. With one swipe of his arm he threw the kitchen table aside and caught Jessica before she hit the floor. In a movie the moment would play out as a grand romantic gesture. But not in real life. Jessica was still panicking. She fought to escape Hale’s arms, her frail body struggling upright.