‘No way, darlin’. I intend to see he pays dearly for the death of my girl and for that other woman. She had three little kids, for fuck’s sake. Be honest, do you really think he is entitled to a life while my child is rotting underground? No way.’

Kate hung her head because part of her grudgingly agreed with what Kelly was saying. It was all right being high-principled, saying if you resorted to violence you were only bringing yourself down to an animal’s level. But what Patrick Kelly said struck a chord with her. She had a daughter of her own. But on the other hand, she’d dedicated her life to the idea that justice should only be done through the proper channels.

She would find the Grantley rapist and when she did she would put him away. That was the law, and that’s what she was paid to do. She could understand his temper, his wish to destroy the man, it was natural for him to feel like that. But although she might sympathise, she would never agree.

You could not fight violence with violence. This man, whoever he was, was sick. Sick in the mind. He needed to be taken away from society. And when she found him - not if, when - he would be put away for good.

There were always two sides to any coin. When Kelly calmed down he would see that much for himself.

At least, she hoped so. She could hear Kelly’s deep breathing and she sighed gently, reminding herself that he had lost his most precious possession.

‘What’s the time?’ Kelly asked finally.

‘A quarter to twelve.’

He looked at her sadly. ‘I’m sorry. I’ve kept you from your own family, tonight of all nights.’

‘Don’t be sorry, Mr Kelly.’

His face was close to her and Kate felt an absurd fluttering sensation inside her. As if she had just run a long race and was breathless. ‘I am working, you know.’

Patrick Kelly stared into Kate’s brown eyes. The sadness there gave them an added beauty. He felt as if the whole mystery of woman was hiding in their depths.

Kate was in Grantley Police Station by one fifteen. Kelly had put his car at her disposal and she had let the driver take her to Grantley Hospital, where she had picked up her own car. The less people knew about her and Patrick Kelly the better. Yet, she reasoned with herself, what was there to know? She had comforted him in his hour of need, that was all. But Kate knew that it was more than that. On her side at least. She pushed the thought from her mind, annoyed with herself. He was a bereaved man, that was all.

Inside the incident room Amanda, Willis and Superintendent Ratchette were all working.