‘Nothing quite so dangerous as a lioness protecting her cubs,’ said Gary sagely.

‘Mmm, it is odd, isn’t it?’ Jackman mused. ‘I think we need to have a word with this guy ourselves. Maybe Uniform could scatter a few officers around the schools when the parents drop their kids off. And that’s odd too — why not at home time? Why always the mornings?’

Marie shrugged.

‘Could mean he’s working and can’t get away,’ said Gary. ‘Or if he’s looking for a particular child, that could have a bearing too. Like, he knows the mother drops them off, and the father collects them, and he doesn’t want the father spotting him. Who knows?’

‘I’ll have a word with the duty sergeant. We can speculate all we like, but we need to get face to face with this guy.’ Jackman scratched his chin. ‘So, have you had a chance to get the lowdown on Giles Bannon yet?’

‘We’ve done a shufty through the records, but we need to really look at the whole thing — transcripts, media coverage, the lot. Bottom line, frankly I’m surprised at the verdict, but that’s only after a cursory look. But if he didn’t do it, someone should be looking for who did.’

Jackman began to clear his desk. ‘That’s something for tomorrow, then. You guys get home. It’s a welcome change to clock off on time, so make the most of it.’

Which they did.

‘Oh, Marie?’

She stopped at the door.

‘Nice to have you back.’ Jackman winked at her.

‘Good to be back, sir, despite what I said.’

CHAPTER FOUR

‘Mum! Mum!’

Lizzie Coupland swore under her breath. ‘How many more times, Tommy? Don’t run down the stairs yelling your head off. Your dad’s watching Gogglebox.’

‘But, Mum. There’s someone in Nan Cutler’s back garden. I was watching out for the International Space Station and I saw something move.’ Tommy, dressed in spaceship pyjamas, looked at her wide-eyed.

She looked at her son suspiciously. ‘You sure it wasn’t a cat? You’ve got a wicked imagination, our Tommy. It was aliens last week.’

‘It’s a man, Mum, I saw him. Honest.’

‘Is there, by heck. Eric! Get that tyre iron you keep by the door. Our Nan Cutler’s got an unwanted visitor in her back garden.’

‘Fuckin’ hell! Right, I’ll have him.’ Eric leaped up, showering the carpet with crisps, and raced into the hall. Moving surprisingly fast for someone of his weight, he grabbed the iron and was out of the back door in seconds. As he went, he flipped a switch and the whole back garden was flooded with light.

They kept a close eye on their elderly widowed neighbour, even having a small gate installed that connected the two properties and gave them swift access if required — like now.

Cursing, Eric floundered around in the old lady’s overgrown garden, flailing the tyre iron like a sabre. ‘Where are you, you bastard?’ After a few minutes of this, he stopped, panting, and looked around. No one. Nothing moved among the weeds and spindly shrubs. ‘Come back here, you, scaring people, and it’ll be the last thing you do! Creep.’