‘. . . discovered at approximately 8 a.m. this morning by the property’s housekeeper. Police say that the housekeeper remains in a state of some shock at this time, and is currently in the care of her family. She will be spoken to at greater length once she has had time to recover from the sight she witnessed. I understand, however, that the police do not anticipate that she will be able to assist much further in their enquiries.’

Reid could feel the vein in his temple throb. His blood pressure was peaking. Every word spoken was confirmation of his worst fear. Sarah was now speaking directly to the news anchor, which meant it was a live broadcast.

‘As I understand it, David, the exact cause of death has yet to be established. An autopsy will be performed but there is no doubt that the former Lord Chief Justice’s death was violent. This is a murder enquiry, and it’s already under way.’

Sarah’s tone signalled that her report was over, but Reid was no longer listening anyway. He was staring at nothing, paralysed by disbelief as shock started to set in.

Reid had experienced panic attacks before. More often than he cared to remember, and certainly enough to recognise the symptoms. He felt the sensation of his chest tightening, almost like a heart attack. He knew he had to bring it under control; at their worst, panic attacks release enough cortisol that they can tip over into genuine cardiac arrest. Focusing on a single spot above the office door, he began to breathe as deeply as he could. Long, greedy breaths through his nose. Exhaling steadily through his mouth. Slowly. Rhythmically. It was a struggle to bring his heart rate – and with it the flow of cortisol and adrenaline – back down to where it should be; every time he came close the thought of Longman facing his ‘violent death’ returned, causing the attack to strengthen.

It was over thirty-five years since Reid had first met Longman. Back when Longman was in his forties and at the top of his game. He had been less than nine months away from his promotion to Queen’s Counsel then, and still years away from his first appointment as a judge. Reid, on the other hand, was still in training. His Bar Exams passed, Longman had been appointed the younger man’s pupil-master. As it had with Michael and Reid, that pupillage forged a friendship that had lasted ever since. A friendship now ended by tragedy.

As close as the two men had remained, their relationship had differed from the one enjoyed by Reid and Michael. Longman always remained much older in his outlook than Reid. Much more serious. And so it had created a father/son feeling between them, very different from the big brother/little brother vibe that existed between Reid and Michael. But all relationships differ, and those differences do not make one friendship count for less than another. Reid loved Longman as much as he loved Michael. To lose either one of them was unthinkable.