‘Look, girl, Peter Sutcliffe took years to find. Then there was Dennis Nilsen. He was even cooking the poor fuckers’ heads and no one would have found him if he hadn’t blocked up his drains with human flesh. Murderers like this only get caught quickly in books and on TV. Real life is a different thing altogether. This man is probably discussing the murders with his family, friends, workmates, acting like he’s as shocked as them. But underneath it all he’s laughing at them and us. Oh, yes, especially us. He’ll read the papers and grin all over his face.

‘But you mark my words, he’ll do something wrong and when he does make a mistake, we’ll be waiting for him. And do you know the first thing I’m going to do?’

‘What?’

Caitlin leaned towards her and grinned.

‘I’m going to smack him once for every corpse that I’ve seen with his handiwork on it and twice as hard and as long for the child. It’s what will keep me going.’

Kate turned from him. Before she could answer the reporters began filtering out of police headquarters and she started the car. The last thing she wanted was to get caught by them.

Caitlin’s words troubled her though. More than she cared to admit. She was aware that any suspect they had now could be in great danger. James Redcar had put a different light on this inquiry altogether. Everyone knew that even criminals had their own code of conduct when it came to a child murderer. As soon as the Grantley Ripper was identified, there’d be more than just the police out to get him. She just hoped they could get to him first.

As she drove back towards the Dartford Tunnel she saw a plane taking off from Gatwick and sighed.

How she wished she was on it.

Patrick went back through Elaine’s address book and grinned. Willy grinned back.

‘He’s gone to his sister’s. Well, we can soon put a stop to his gallop. Get me Shaun O’Grady on the blower, I’ve just had a great idea.’

While Willy dialled, Patrick poured out a fresh cup of coffee. He had the man now. He was convinced of it.

He thought fleetingly of Kate. If she ever found out what he was going to do, she would never forgive him.

His mouth hardened. This had nothing to do with Kate, this was family business.

He sipped the hot coffee and lit a cigarette. Willy handed the phone to him.

‘Shaun? It’s me, Patrick, how are you?’

Shaun O’Grady sat in his luxurious home in Miami and whooped with delight.

‘Hiya, Pat. How’s tricks?’

‘I’ve got some trouble, Shaun, family trouble.’

Shaun O’Grady pushed the woman beside him away. He pulled himself up to a sitting position and gestured to her to light him a cigarette.