‘Forensics will probably check fingerprints from inside the house and compare them with those of the dead woman. The neighbours have confirmed that she lived alone, although she had a lot of regular callers, both male and female, which isn’t exactly a surprise either.’ Jackman sat back. ‘But, as there’s no new partner or husband living with her, we might have to ask Felix, the ex-husband, to identify her.’

‘Jackman, I could be completely off base here, but I’m getting dead twitchy about the women whose photographs were stolen,’ said Marie slowly. ‘The suspect seems to like to permanently eradicate anyone who gets in his way, and as we have no idea why he took those particular boys’ pictures, what if those women are in danger?’

Jackman groaned. ‘We don’t have the resources to watch them all, Marie, Uniform are stretched enough providing officers to cover the boys’ schools and advise those schools on extra security. And apart from that, we’ve nowhere near enough proof that they’re at risk to get those women into safe houses. It won’t happen, I’m afraid.’

‘Until one of them finishes up in another shallow grave,’ she muttered. ‘Then the others will have to be protected.’ She looked at him. ‘I don’t want to scare the shit out of them, they’ve been through enough, but I think we need to find a way to encourage them to be extra vigilant. They’re all far too vulnerable, considering we have a highly motivated killer out there.’

She was right, but how could it be done without adding to their anxiety? ‘I’ll speak to Stacey and Jay, and Simon too. Maybe they could have a word with their skipper and watch for any night-time activity in or near their addresses.’

Marie smiled at him. ‘Thanks, boss. It’s better than nothing.’ She lost her smile. ‘If only we knew who this damned killer was! Then we could throw every man and woman we have out there to look for the bastard. As it is, we’re in the bloody dark.’

‘Steady on, Marie,’ Jackman said. ‘It’s frustrating, I know, but we’ll get him. We’re making headway every day, you know that.’

‘And people are dying every day. A child is in danger, and we don’t even know who that child is. Our headway isn’t good enough, is it?’

Jackman was surprised at Marie’s sudden burst of negativity. Up to now, she had been amazingly upbeat and positive about the investigation. It was as if someone had thrown a switch. He closed the door. ‘Talk to me,’ he said softly. ‘This isn’t like you.’

Marie sank back in her chair and let out a long sigh. ‘I’m sorry, Jackman. That was out of order.’

‘So, what’s troubling you? The real reason.’

‘It’s silly. It’s stupid. And it’s not even professional.’