Before they could even step inside, the appalling stench hit them. They both retched.

Neither had to ask what had caused it. It was unmistakable. Rotting, stinking decomposition.

It was certainly far too late for an ambulance.

‘Stay here,’ gasped Sam, holding her back. ‘I’ll go in and look. This isn’t for you.’

‘It isn’t for you either.’ She gagged. ‘Nor for anyone with a heart, or a sense of smell. I’m coming with you.’ She gripped his arm. ‘Come on.’

The woman was lying on her side, behind a leather couch in the open-plan lounge area. Blood had pooled, caked and dried around her. It was impossible to see what had happened, but Laura suspected that multiple stab wounds would be found in her upper body. There was no need to go further inside. She had been dead a long, long time. So long that she was unrecognisable, even if they had known her. They had to assume this was Catherine Shields. Who else could it be?

‘Okay, we’ve seen enough. Let’s go,’ said Sam, his hand over his mouth and nose. ‘I’d rather make our calls out in the fresh air.’

She was about to agree when she heard a noise behind her. She froze. She knew exactly who it would be.

‘I suppose you’re looking for me?’

She turned slowly. Just seeing him was bad enough, but the knife gripped in his right hand almost stopped her heart.

* * *

Natalie Miles was angry. She demanded to know why more had not been done to protect her nephew knowing there was a madman loose in the area.

It took both Max and Charlie, as well as her friend Patsy, some time to calm her before she cooled off and admitted that little more could have been done given the circumstances. Police crews had kept up discreet surveillance on the schools, and the school itself had upped security. Somebody always went to and from there with him — much to his annoyance — and everywhere he went, he was always accompanied by a responsible adult. His home, and that of the other boys, had also been under surveillance by the police.

‘To be honest, my darling,’ said Patsy gently, ‘that man would have found a way, even if your nephew had been shut up in a locked room in a high tower. It’s like any criminal — if you have something they want, they’ll find a way to get it.’

Max looked at Patsy with interest. ‘That sounds like a copper speaking.’

‘Fifteen years with Derbyshire Constabulary,’ she admitted with a grin.

‘That’s why I feel so safe with her around,’ said Natalie.

Now she had calmed down enough, Max and Charlie lost no time in asking their questions.

‘Is he a boy that’s easily influenced, would you say?’ asked Charlie.

‘Oh no. Davy knows his own mind,’ she assured them.