He hurried down the hall into the living room. She was sitting on the couch, looking up at him. Jo was swaddled in her Moses basket, eyes closed. He stared at her, looking to see if her chest was rising and falling.

It was. He felt dizzy with relief.

‘So,’ he said. ‘What’s going on? Is Jo OK?’

‘She’s fine.’

‘Then what is it?’

Alice pointed to the coffee table. There was a piece of A4 paper on it, next to an envelope.

‘That came in the post this morning.’

‘Who’s it from?’

And why, he thought, did I need to come back from the office? How urgent could a letter be?

‘Take a look,’ she said.

He picked it up and started to read. And he understood why she had called him home.

Alice

Tom put the letter back on the table. His face was drained of blood, his eyes wide. He sat on the couch.

‘What the fuck?’ he said, after a long pause. ‘I mean – what the fuck?’

‘I know,’ Alice said.

‘Is it real?’

‘Yes,’ Alice said. ‘It’s real. At least I assume it is. I’ll have to ask Nadia about the keys.’

‘So you think it’s him? The Crucifix Killer?’

Alice nodded. ‘It has to be.’

‘And he knows about you,’ Tom said. ‘And Joanna. And where we live. This is not good, Alice!’

‘I know.’ She caught his eye. ‘I’m scared.’

‘Have you called the police?’

‘I texted Nadia a photo.’

‘You need to stop writing about this guy,’ Tom said. ‘It’s not safe.’

‘I can’t. This is my story. And I can’t be intimidated out of writing about it. I’m a journalist, Tom.’

‘You’re a mum.’

‘Let’s see what the police say,’ she said. ‘We don’t have to decide now.’

‘I’ve already decided.’

‘It’s not your decision, though, is it?’

Her phone rang. It was Nadia.

‘Hi,’ she said. ‘Did you get my message?’

‘Yes,’ Nadia said.

‘What do you think?’

‘I think you need to stay where you are. I’m on my way over with Detective Inspector Wynne.’

‘How long?’ Alice said.

‘Ten minutes,’ Nadia replied. ‘Sit tight.’

Alice opened the front door. Nadia was standing behind a short-haired woman wearing a badly fitting suit. She had a slightly disconcerting gaze; it was as though she was studying you, taking in every detail and weighing it to see what she could learn.

‘I’m Detective Inspector Jane Wynne,’ she said. ‘I believe you know DS Alexander?’

‘Come in,’ Alice said. ‘We can go through to the living room. Nadia – DS Alexander – knows the way.’

They followed Nadia down the hall. In the living room, Alice indicated to DI Wynne to take a seat. She perched on the armchair. Nadia remained standing by the door.

‘I believe you received a letter?’ Wynne said.

‘It’s there,’ Alice said, and pointed to the table.