‘I need Vicki Rosach’s personal details,’ Ava said. ‘Don’t alert your office. It’s important Vicki has no idea anything’s wrong. Do you know if she’s at work now?’

‘I think so,’ Maclure said. ‘If I call in to check, it’s likely to be her who picks up the phone.’

‘Don’t do that,’ Ava said quickly. ‘Brief description?’

‘About twenty, ginger hair, pale skin.’

‘I remember her,’ Ava said.

‘She’s not great at her job, to be honest. Perhaps I should have got rid of her, but I always thought of her as distracted or a bit thoughtless and I like to give people a proper chance. It never occurred to me there might be anything more suspicious going on.’

‘We’re not certain yet that Vicki’s got anything to do with it,’ Ava said, shutting her laptop and picking up her coat. ‘We’ll bring her in and ask about her associates. If we move forwards, I’ll need you to attend and identify the man you think you recognised.’

‘I’ll help in any way I can, especially given that my office is responsible.’

Ava paused on the way out of her office.

‘Mr Maclure, if I’ve learned anything in the police, it’s that psychopaths always find a way. There’s an inevitability about what they do. A determination that beats any barrier put in their path. Your organisation isn’t to blame here. All we can do now is make sure there are no more victims.’

Chapter Thirty-Two

17 March

Whatever computer glitch had been keeping his emails from him was suddenly mended. Callanach opened his laptop to find forty-two messages he hadn’t yet read. He started at the top.

Good morning, sir.

Tripp had messaged, no less formal in email than he was in the flesh.

I heard from DCI Turner that you’re on administrative leave. I hope it’s all right emailing, but I wanted to let you know that we’re making good progress with the cases here. If you need anything, please call my mobile. I hope you’re well.

Callanach smiled. His newly promoted detective sergeant was understandably formal, but the message was well-intentioned. Tripp was nothing if not loyal and together they’d made an unlikely but successful team. Until now.

Callanach opened the next email, which was from his bank, then one reminding his about a dental appointment – at least he had plenty of time for that sort of thing now – before deciding to get himself a coffee. No point using up all his distractions at once when his days were so long and uneventful.