‘But this is not like anything we’ve faced before, Laura. Dave wasn’t picked at random like when a terrorist attacks a uniform in the street. He was deliberately targeted. The killer knew his name, where he lived, when he’d be home.’

We looked at each other in the mirror.

‘So what do you think we should do?’ I asked.

She sucked on her bottom lip. ‘I think the task force operations should be suspended while this is investigated by other divisions. And if they won’t go for that upstairs then we should be given the option of stepping away from it. It’s not fair to make us carry on like this. I can’t be the only person who’s scared to leave this building and go home.’

She wasn’t. I knew that. Several other detectives had told me that they too were nervous about going home. One had already called his wife to tell her to pick up their two sons from school and go straight to his parents’ house.

Kate drew a sharp breath and threw her tissue in the bin.

‘I’m sick and tired of bad things happening,’ she said. ‘And I can’t help thinking that my life would have been so much better, and far less dramatic, if I’d never joined the police.’

I cocked my head to one side and frowned.

‘Do you really mean that?’

She turned towards me and her features tightened.

‘Damn right I do. I married late because I was so busy doing this job that I forgot to have a social life. And when I did finally get hitched it was to a copper who turned out to be a cheating bastard. If he hadn’t died in an accident I swear I would have killed him myself.’

She started sobbing again so I put my arms around her and gave her a hug.

I managed not to cry along with her, but it required a large amount of willpower. Inside I was just as fearful and confused, although I hadn’t got to the stage where I was wishing I’d never joined the force. If anything I felt an even stronger sense of responsibility, not only to my colleagues, but also to the public. We were the last line of defence and we couldn’t back away from any challenge or threat, no matter how severe. But would I still feel the same way if the killings continued? That was a question I wasn’t able to answer.

Aidan rang to say he was at home and that my mother was with him.

‘She’s still scared, Laura,’ he said. ‘So I’ve told her to stay here tonight.’

I swallowed hard. Pinched the bridge of my nose. Didn’t know what to say to ease his fears.

‘We’ve been watching the news,’ he said. ‘They’re saying the killer’s still out there.’