‘Then you clearly are crazy,’ James said, as he struggled to keep his panic in. ‘Any sane person would have been long gone by now.’

‘But I’ve never professed to be sane, Detective. In fact, as I recall it you described me in court as a “grade-A psychopath”.’

‘And now you want to kill me because you spent fourteen months inside?’

‘You know very well that being banged up was only ever part of it. Because of you I lost my wife and kid. I have no fucking idea where in the world they are.’

‘You’ve only got yourself to blame for that, Sullivan. You murdered someone and by putting you away I was only doing my job.’

‘Well, that’s not how I see it. I told you a year ago that we’d meet again at a time and place of my choosing. And this is it. I didn’t want to have to rush it because you’re the last on my list of scores to settle and I was looking forward to savouring it.’

‘So, how did you know I’d be driving along this road tonight?’

‘I followed you from the station in Kendal. It might surprise you to learn that I’ve been staying at a B&B in the town for a couple of nights. The intention was to sort you out before moving on to a little hideaway I have in Scotland. I know all about your new life in Kirkby Abbey and the plan was to drop in on you at home. But when I got there, I spotted the surveillance team outside and drove past. I clocked your car and the number plate, though, so I came up with another plan.’

‘And what was that?’ James asked, playing for time as he desperately tried to judge whether he could turn the tables.

‘I went to the station this afternoon and saw your car out front,’ Sullivan said. ‘So, I parked nearby and waited. And the fact that you left so late this evening suited me perfectly because it’s now dark and this road is bound to be empty for a while.’

‘Then why haven’t you pulled the trigger already?’ James said.

‘Because like I said, I want to savour this moment. It’s been a long time coming, and it’ll be my swansong. In a week or so I’ll be on my way to Europe and then to South America. A new start. A new life. Fuck this shithole of a country.’

James saw the fire in his eyes now. He was excited, worked up. As he spoke spit flew off his lips.

‘Before your lot get here I’ll be swigging back whisky in my snug Scottish bolthole,’ he said.

James saw an opportunity to dent his confidence and he went for it.

‘Do you mean the house that you’re leasing near Dumfries?’

Sullivan’s eyes narrowed. ‘How the fuck …’