Contents (83)
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- Acknowledgements
- OUT NOW IN PAPERBACK
‘What does that matter?’ Sarah’s voice was now a mixture of grief and confusion. ‘Why are you even thinking about that? What you should be thinking about is five dead cops and what that means. Because what that means is you can’t protect yourself against this guy. As long as you’re out there and in public, he can get to you. You need to come to us. You need to come to where you’ll be safe.’
‘I can’t do that, Sarah. And we’re not going over this again, either. I’ve made my decision.’
Michael could not face another debate. Not now. The fact that Hirst had Tina Barker – that the sick son of a bitch could be doing God knows what to her – was enough of a blow. Combined with the thought of Hirst massacring a house full of cops, Michael just did not have the capacity for more trauma.
Going another round with Sarah about running and hiding is the last thing I need, he thought.
Michael’s eyes flicked to the image on the bedroom’s television screen before he had the chance to think again. The sight of Joelle Levy about to address the assembled British press came as a surprise.
He reached for the remote to turn up the volume.
‘Sarah? I’m going to have to call you back.’
SIXTY-ONE
‘Joelle? Did you hear what I said?’
Levy started at the sound. She had not been listening, instead just staring blankly at the two empty crystal glasses that sat together on her desk. Now she looked up, distracted from her reverie. She wiped her eyes with her fingertips before responding.
‘Sir.’ Levy’s pitch was abnormally high, she noticed. She corrected it with a cough. ‘I’m sorry, sir. I was miles away. Can I help you?’
‘Don’t worry about me. What concerns me is you. The press conference is due to start in five minutes. Are you sure you’re up to it?’
‘Yes, sir,’ Levy managed, her voice wavering with emotion. ‘I’ll be . . . I’ll be fine.’
‘You don’t have to be fine.’ Chief Superintendent David Rogers’ voice was as kind as Levy had ever heard it. ‘No one expects that of you. You’ve just lost a key team member. Not one single copper would think less if you give this one a pass. You’re only human.’
‘No, sir,’ Levy said, her voice suddenly firm. ‘I need to do this. Karl Hirst needs to be found and I want to be the one who does it, sir. I’m not walking away from this. Not after what he did to . . . Not after Steve.’
She took a deep breath, preparing herself.
‘I need to get the word out on this bastard so we can bring him down before he hurts anyone else. I’m going to make him pay for Hale. And with all due respect, and being genuinely grateful at the compassion you’ve shown me, doing that is all the TLC I need.’
Rogers did not reply immediately. He just met Levy’s eyes and held them.