Jackman thanked them and hurried back to his car. Mill Corner was still in darkness, so he drove on by. He’d had a text saying that Laura wouldn’t be discharged until much later that evening, if then, and Sam had chosen to stay with her.

So, a pizza at the station, and the search for the boy in the middle. Davy Frances, the chosen one.

* * *

DS Vic Blackwell sat by Laura’s bed. He’d only just returned to Saltern-le-Fen after a year working with a special tactical unit. He had mixed feelings about Saltern, having disgraced himself there through his own stupid actions. Now, however, he was beginning to recover his old reputation as a good copper. Reconciled with Marie, his old crewmate from way back, he had returned to CID. His first case was a homicide, involving a client of the force psychologist, Dr Archer, along with a professor of psychology who had an almost legendary reputation. It was a bit daunting.

He listened carefully to their account of the event that had brought them to the hospital. When he asked for their professional opinion of their assailant, Freddie Shields, he couldn’t fail to notice the look that passed between them. Laura admitted that Shields was an enigma, often saying one thing while his body language suggested something entirely different.

‘We have our suspicions about what is driving this man, Detective,’ said Sam, ‘but these are unsubstantiated, and we’re loath to share them at this point. We’re not being obstructive, we just don’t want to give you misleading information.’

‘We have an expert in the field of somnambulism arriving tomorrow,’ said Laura. ‘He will either confirm or refute our conclusions.’

Vic nodded. ‘Well, at this point, my job is to find and question him. Then I’ll need to rely on forensic evidence to confirm that it was indeed Shields that committed the murder or whether we have to look for a person or persons unknown. But as soon as you can give me your conclusions as to this man’s mental state, the clearer I will be about what I’m dealing with.’

‘Of course,’ said Sam. ‘We’ll come straight to you when we’ve discussed it with our expert.’ His face darkened. ‘What we can say now, Detective, is do not underestimate this man. I’m certain he has some twisted agenda in that head of his, and he’ll not take kindly to being deflected from his goal.’

‘Did either of you notice what he was wearing?’ asked Vic.

‘Grey sports pants and a dark hooded jacket with a white logo, though I forget what it was. It was a popular brand, I know that.’ Laura closed her eyes and lay back. ‘Sorry, but I have the headache from hell.’