DI Wynne nodded. ‘That’s a possibility. And we will of course understand if your wife chooses not to publish any more on this case.’

Alice glared at Tom. ‘I didn’t say that,’ she said.

‘If it is an attempt to communicate’ – Wynne held up the bag – ‘then they will want a reply.’

‘There’s no return address,’ Tom said. ‘So how would Alice – assuming she wanted to – reply?’

‘Through the press,’ Nadia said. ‘Through another story. But it’s too risky. We can’t ask you to do that.’

‘You can’t ask me,’ Alice said. ‘But if I wanted to, I could?’

‘No way,’ Tom said. ‘Not happening.’

‘Tom,’ Alice said. ‘Would you mind not speaking for me?’ She stood up and walked to the window. ‘I could, if I wanted?’

‘That would be your choice,’ Wynne said. ‘But there would be risks.’

‘How big?’

Wynne tilted her head to one side. ‘Hard to say. The threats could be no more than a way to establish dominance. To come here and hurt you in cold blood would be unusual. Serial killers have rituals which are as important as the murders themselves. But there are no guarantees, Ms Sark.’ She leaned forward. ‘Let me be clear. You are free to act as you wish, but I cannot recommend – let alone ask – that you do so.’

‘If I did,’ Alice said, softly. ‘Could you offer any protection?’

‘We can have a patrol car pass by frequently,’ Wynne said. ‘And put an alert on your address, so if you make a call we’ll have officers here in minutes. But we will do that anyway, on the strength of this letter.’

‘OK,’ Alice said. ‘I’ll think about it. There’s one other thing. What about the message at the end?’

‘The “they’ll hear from me soon”?’ Nadia said.

‘Right,’ Alice replied. ‘And that their work needs further elaboration.’

‘That’s a threat I am worried about,’ Wynne said. ‘It means they’re getting ready to kill again. And we need to warn people. DS Alexander – we need to get this in the public domain.’

‘A press conference?’ Nadia said.

‘Yes. As soon as we can.’

Tom

Tom watched the police officers leave. He couldn’t quite believe what had just happened. He had a hollow pit in his stomach, along with a feeling he didn’t recognize.

It took him a moment to realize what it was.

It was fear.

‘Alice,’ Tom said. ‘This can’t be only your decision.’

‘It isn’t,’ she said. ‘We’re talking about it.’

‘Yes, but I’m saying don’t do it and you’re doing it.’

Alice was still standing by the window. She leaned against the frame. ‘DI Wynne said she thinks it could be safe.’

‘They advised you not to!’ Tom said.

‘They said I could.’

‘But why would you?’

‘It’s a big story.’