During the past twelve months he and Annie had carried out renovation work on their four-bedroom cottage, which had been left to Annie by her mother, and they’d made a conscious effort to play an active part in village life.

It had been easier for Annie to settle in because she’d lived in Kirkby Abbey before moving to London. For James it had been much more of a challenge, especially after the terrible events of a year ago when a serial killer went on a rampage in the village.

It took many months for the villagers to get over the shock of it and for life to return to near normal. But thankfully it had, and what had happened back then no longer dominated every conversation.

When James came out of the shower, he saw that Annie had already gone downstairs. He got dressed as quickly as he could, putting on a suit instead of jeans and a jumper for the first time in just over a week, and when he glanced at himself in the wardrobe mirror it made him sigh.

He’d got used to not wearing a shirt, tie and jacket, and he felt uncomfortable. But that was too bad because he didn’t have a choice. Coppers were always being reminded that they had to look smart and respectable in order to maintain public confidence.

When he walked into the kitchen a minute later he found Annie standing in front of the oven.

She turned towards him, and said, ‘Wow, I’d forgotten how dashing you are when you’re going to work.’

‘I think it’s time you started to wear glasses,’ he replied. ‘I’m forty years old with a paunch and hair that’s going grey.’

She smiled and it lit up her face. ‘That’s true, but when you’re wearing a suit those flaws are not so obvious.’

Teasing each other had always been one of the aspects of their marriage that he treasured. It kept them on their toes and never failed to liven up dull moments.

‘I’m making you a bacon sandwich and some coffee,’ she said, turning back to the oven. ‘Take a seat good sir and I’ll serve it up.’

Annie was wearing her thick pink dressing gown with a belt tied around the waist. As James sat at the table, he thought yet again how lucky he was to have her as his wife. As well as being beautiful, with delicate features, bright blue eyes and shiny long black hair, she was also kind, funny and considerate. He knew that if he ever lost her, he wouldn’t want to go on living.

She sat across the table from him while he drank his coffee and demolished his bacon sandwich, both of them watching the local news on the wall-mounted television.