‘It would be wise to keep your suspicions to yourself, Mr Boyd. You wouldn’t want to jeopardise or interfere with an on-going case, now, would you?’ Palmer retorted with a sarcastic grin before taking down Joan’s details and leaving the clubhouse with Elly in tow.

Tilly sat in her bed, wrapped in her crumpled-up sheets, hugging her knees. The basement flat was cold although the heating was on. On the other side of her bedroom door she could hear Yuki moving around in the living room. The television was loud and Tilly listened to the morning news.

‘Another victim of The Hangman was discovered in Burwell late last night by a man walking his dog. The body of man, who has yet to be named, was found hanging from a tree next to Burwell Fishing Lakes. The authorities are on the scene and have cordoned off the area. Anyone who saw anything suspicious is encouraged to contact the police or Crimestoppers.

‘This is the third murder in ten days and police appear to be no nearer to identifying the person responsible. Cambridgeshire residents have been urged to be vigilant.

‘In other news…’

At that point Tilly lay down in bed and put her pillow over her head. She’d heard more than she wanted to. She was scared enough when the second body was discovered but now, she was terrified.

Although the police had given her permission to return to Devon she felt compelled to stay until the case was wrapped up. Tilly didn’t know if it would be weeks or months, but she knew that if she went back to Ilfracombe she’d never return to Cambridge. She had to see this out, even if it meant staying in that grotty flat for Christmas, even if it meant not seeing her family, because she was petrified and she was sick of feeling that way. Her entire life Tilly had been brave and this new fear she felt made her question who she was. Determined to have the life she wanted and to finish her veterinary training, Tilly was adamant that she had to face her fear. She’d never run away from anything before and she was not about to change the habit of a lifetime, even if it put her mental health under threat.

She lay in bed wondering about the identity of the third victim. The newsreader had said it was male, so she knew that much but nothing more. Tilly suspected it wouldn’t take long for his name to be released and knew that even when it was it probably wouldn’t make a difference to her. She just hoped he was a stranger, unlike Dennis, her boss.