‘Just don’t apologise.’ He moved closer and looked at her intently. ‘I know what this is going to be like, Marie. But I’m still up for it, if you are?’

His kiss seemed to stop time. Then he held her at arm’s length, smiling at her, his eyes shining. ‘All right, DS Evans. Go and answer your shout. Our time will come.’

‘And I’m going to damn well make sure it does, DS Enderby!’

* * *

Marie drove into Saltern-le-Fen, thinking that she’d finally crossed the line and entered new territory. It was daunting, but she was full of hope.

Skeldyke Lane consisted of a scattering of properties along a winding lane leading from the edge of town into the marshes. The house was old, as were almost all of the ones out here. Twilight was now fast turning into darkness, and the blue lights up ahead flashed vividly against the indigo sky.

This is my world, thought Marie. And it’s Ralph’s too. We both understand the importance of what we do, so we might be able to make it work. She thought about the rocky road that Jackman had trodden with Laura, and knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it was certainly worth trying.

She got out and locked the car. Now it was time for work.

She found the homeowner, a Mrs Owen, sitting at her kitchen table with PC Simon Laker. He really had drawn the short straw, hadn’t he? She wondered briefly if he’d known what he was letting himself in for when he requested to be notified of anything connected to their investigation.

He introduced Marie to the white-faced householder. ‘Are you up to telling the detective sergeant here what you told me?’

Mrs Owen nodded. ‘I go to bed very early, Detective Sergeant. Not much to stay up for these days, not since my husband died. Now I know old houses do creak and groan a bit, but tonight I’d barely settled and put the telly on when I was disturbed by another noise, one I didn’t recognise. I knew it was coming from downstairs, and I was terrified, but I thought I’d rather go and face whatever it was than have it come upstairs and find me.’

‘That was very brave of you,’ said Marie.

‘That’s what I said,’ added Simon. ‘I’m a big lad, but even I would have thought twice.’

‘You can’t roll over and give up just because you’re a woman on your own. My Eric would have been down those stairs like a shot, and I try to follow his example when something scares me. “Head on, my girl,” he would say. “Problems? Face ’em head on!”’

‘And what did you find?’ asked Marie.

‘A face at the window.’ She swallowed. ‘It was distorted, horrible. Pressed right up against the glass like some gargoyle. I can’t tell you how shocked I was.’