He looked at her in puzzlement, then grinned. ‘Call me thick, but some clarification would be helpful.’

Slowly, an apologetic smile replaced the scowl. ‘Okay, if you must know, it was seeing Giles Bannon that set it all off. I got to thinking that if he really did three years in HMP Full Sutton for a dreadful crime that, not only did he not commit, but was never given the opportunity to grieve for his wife and child, and there was no one to help him come to terms with what happened. Add to that, the poor sod also knew that their killer was still out there, probably laughing his head off, and most likely would never be caught. It’s a wonder he’s still able to function at all.’

Jackman nodded. ‘It is a worst-case scenario and, as you well know, it’s very, very rare.’

‘I know, but it got me thinking how important it is for us police officers to get everything right. If we cock up, people suffer.’

‘And they’d suffer a lot more if we weren’t here and doing our job to the best of our ability. We’re only human, Marie, and far from perfect, but we do our level best.’ But she knew all this. ‘And the rest?’ he asked. ‘The bit that’s really eating you?’

Marie gave him a wry smile. ‘You really do know me, don’t you, Jackman? Sure, Bannon kick-started it, but what’s behind it all is that I suddenly realised I’d found someone I really care about, and it scared me. I married a policeman, and he died too soon. I’m terrified it’s going to happen again.’ Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. ‘Life is so unfair sometimes — look at what happened to Bannon, and to my Bill. I don’t want to lose someone else.’

Jackman went and put his arm around her. ‘Time for that hug you were talking about yesterday, I think. And before you object, it’s wholly appropriate.’

‘I’m not objecting. But I told you it was stupid,’ she said tearfully.

‘Far from it. Life deals us some pretty poor hands sometimes. But just think: you, Marie Evans, have just emerged, blinking in the sunlight, from a very long, dark social hibernation. It’s an emotional awakening. I know that from meeting and falling in love with Laura. It’s a shock to the system.’ Jackman sank down on his haunches beside her. ‘It will pass, I promise, and you’ll be stronger than ever.’

‘Now I feel like a real idiot. I can’t believe I just offloaded all that onto you.’

‘Anytime. I’m your friend, and you were there for me when Laura and I had our big wobble a little while back. We’ve chosen a career that rarely supports stable relationships, but it’s down to us to stick two fingers up and make a go of it.’