Isaac knew that his career could not suffer another embarrassing incident. Even now, he was confining his movements to the office, his policing duties and his empty flat. Socialising, even if there was time, was strictly off the agenda. Charlotte Hamilton could appear at any time; an inappropriate approach engineered by her with a photo posted on the internet, and he would be suspended. His career could not take the ignominy, he knew that. He had to catch her and ensure she was put behind bars; no doubt hospital bars as it was clear that she was criminally insane.
Regardless of the lax security, Dr Lake was in London. Protection had been assigned to her day and night, although Isaac and his team felt that, going on previous form, Charlotte Hamilton would not be easily deterred.
Wendy was the first to speak that morning in the office. As usual, she was upbeat and optimistic, in sharp contrast to Isaac.
Wendy, perceptive and having known him longer than anyone else in the office, sympathised. She was used to seeing a fit, upright black police inspector, not the man in front of her now with a worried look on his face. ‘Don’t worry, sir. We’ll find her soon enough.’
She realised it was probably a futile statement of encouragement. Apart from knowing Charlotte Hamilton was in London, they knew little more. Gladys Lake was still safe, although she was a woman not used to restrictions, and despite the best efforts of the police, all in the office knew that she still represented an easy target.
‘Don’t relax your guard for a minute,’ Isaac had warned her when they met at her hotel for a coffee. ‘Charlotte Hamilton is not far away, and she’s not used to failure.’
Gladys Lake, appreciative of Isaac’s visit to warn her, could only agree. ‘I understand, but I can hardly hide away until you find her. Besides, I don’t believe she wanted to harm her parents. All she wanted from them was unconditional love and a respite from her killing spree.’
‘Can you empathise with Charlotte?’ Isaac asked, not sure that the doctor was correct.
‘Empathise, certainly. I need to do that with all my patients, try to understand the world from their point of view, aim to bring them back to reality.’
‘And did Charlotte understand the reality? Do you believe she is aware that what she is doing is wrong?’
‘I believe I’ve had this discussion with your people before.’
‘Maybe, but I would appreciate your informing me.’
‘Depends on her medication, her current state of mind, but she probably does not believe she is at fault. However, like everyone she needs love, unconditional love. Her parents would be the obvious choice to give her that, and they attempted to in the past.’
‘That’s before they realised that Charlotte had killed her brother, their son,’ Isaac reminded Gladys Lake.
‘As you say, before they realised. And it’s clear they could not give her the love she wants now, and when she confronted them in their house the other week, it was always going to end badly.’
‘So she could have gone to their house hopeful of a warm welcome.’
‘Probably, but that’s not what happened, is it?’
‘No, her parents reacted badly. And your reaction if you’re cornered by her? Will you be able to empathise, to show her the love and trust she craves?’ Isaac asked.
‘Outwardly, I probably will, but I will be shaking like a leaf. Charlotte scares me, and I know she blames me for what has gone wrong in her life.’
‘Yet you do not take the appropriate precautions. You should have stayed in Newcastle,’ Isaac reminded her.
‘The conference I am attending is important. I needed to come.’
‘Important enough to risk your life?’
‘Not that important, I suppose, but I’ll be careful.’
Isaac realised that his discussion with Dr Lake, pleasurable as it had been, had achieved little. Even if there were someone with her at all times, it would not be difficult in a crowded conference room to get in close and to stab her. Still, Isaac realised that he had done his best, and her fate, as well as his future, were in the hands of a delusional woman who continued to evade justice.
***
Sara Marshall, fearful for her safety but mainly for her child, had asked her mother to look after the infant for a few days. Sara instinctively knew that the current case was coming to a conclusion; she didn’t know why, other than she could feel all the intricacies, all the components, of the case coming together. She had been involved with Charlotte Hamilton for too many years to believe that she would not go after Gladys Lake, and she intended to stay close to her, even if there was other protection close by. An assigned police constable, even with a photo and a description of Charlotte, would not recognise her easily, especially if she was disguised, and she was clearly proficient in that.
Sara knew more about the woman than anyone else, and she would be looking for mannerisms, the way she walked, the look in her eyes, similarities to her parents. No one else was more capable of recognising the woman, she was sure of that; no one else could save Gladys Lake.
Sean O’Riordan, Sara’s constable during Charlotte Hamilton’s first murdering rampage three years earlier, and now an integral member of Isaac’s team at Homicide, continued to look for the woman. His girlfriend, although used to his extended working hours and his time
