‘Unlikely,’ Larry said, not sure how to handle the man’s surly attitude.
‘That may be, but I need to be updated by the team if we are to prevent any more murders.’
‘She seems to be focussed on Dr Lake at the present moment. CI Cook has ensured that she is well protected.’
‘She was meant to be well protected at the damn conference, but the woman got through, almost killed DI Marshall,’ Caddick said.
‘That’s true.’
Larry, summarily dismissed, sat down at his desk.
‘You’ve met our new SIO,’ Isaac said.
‘Gruff sort of man.’
‘DCI,’ a voice shouted from the other side of the room.
‘Our master beckons,’ Larry murmured.
Isaac re-entered his former office.
‘Yes, DCI,’ Isaac said.
‘I need to meet the team as soon as possible.’
‘They’re busy at the present moment.’
‘Where?’
‘Apart from DI Marshall, who you know about, Sergeant O’Riordan is staying close to Dr Lake in case Charlotte Hamilton reappears.’
‘Unfinished business?’
‘That’s what we believe.’
‘Who else?’
‘You’ve just met DI Hill, and Sergeant Wendy Gladstone is looking for the woman.’
‘I was told that she was excellent at finding missing people.’
‘She is.’
‘But not this woman.’
‘Not entirely true, but with this woman we’ve always been one step behind. DI Hill and Sergeant Gladstone found where she stayed in Windsor, but she had left by then.’
‘Not much use then, is it?’
‘I can’t agree with you on that. Any evidence or information assists.’
‘Agreed, but policing by the book isn’t working. What’s the latest on this woman?’
‘After the conference centre, we traced her movements down as far as Blackfriars Bridge.’
‘How?’
‘CCTV monitoring the traffic picked her up. That’s why Bridget Halloran, our CCTV viewing officer, is not here.’
‘She’s out checking the videos?’
‘We’re looking south of the Thames.’
‘And then?’
‘Hopefully, we’ll find out where she’s gone.’
‘What’s the psychologist’s analysis of the woman.’
‘Dr Lake believes she’s fixated on her. There have been two attempts on her life, so far. Charlotte Hamilton has succeeded with every previous victim.
‘Is Dr Lake, the best person to give an analysis?’
‘You’ve brought yourself up to speed on this case?’
‘Not totally.’ It was a frank admission from the new SIO. Isaac knew that this was not about a new broom to resolve the case; this was the commissioner looking after his people. Ousting him, and no doubt Richard Goddard, his DCS.
It was evident to Isaac that Detective Chief Inspector Seth Caddick would not be up to speed for some time, and if there was to be a resolution to the case, it was up to him.
***
Charlotte woke up the next morning when a cup of tea was brought to her. She had slept well. As it had been with Beaty, so it was with Mrs Jenkins. A cat which had climbed up on her bed during the night slept peacefully.
‘That’s Brutus. He’s been out ratting all night. If you don’t mind, I’ll leave him there.’
‘I don’t mind,’ Charlotte said.
‘Bacon and eggs?’
‘It sounds lovely.’
‘Twenty minutes. You can have a shower; I’ve put a towel there for you. Also, I washed and ironed the clothes that you wore yesterday. I hope you don’t mind.’
‘You’re too kind.’
‘Not at all. I know how much Beaty and Felix loved you. It’s the least I can do.’
Charlotte remembered back to her time in the town before; how much she had loved it there and how much she had loved Beaty, more than her own parents. She determined to stay in Sevenoaks and to forget about her past, even though she could not resist the need to phone the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel and to ask about Gladys Lake.
As she sat down to breakfast, Mrs Jenkins spoke. ‘You can stay here as long as you like. At least until you are settled.’
‘I would like that very much,’ Charlotte said as she ate her breakfast.
She had spent three years with Beaty, the best years of her life, when there had been no medication, no doctors, no anguish on her part, and no recriminations for the murders she had committed. She wondered if they had only been imaginings on her part, a result of her schizophrenia.
‘More toast?’
‘Yes, please, and some of your jam.’
‘Made it myself.’
‘I remember your jam from before.’
‘Where did you go?’ Mrs Jenkins asked.
‘After Beaty and Felix?’
‘Yes.’
‘I was so upset. They meant everything to me.’
‘But you had friends here; friends who would have cared for you.’
‘It’s complicated.’
‘Let’s talk no more about it. You’re here now. That’s all that matters.’
‘I’m here now, and this time I’ll stay.’
It was eight in the morning as Charlotte wandered around the town, that she saw him. It was the driver of the truck that had killed Felix. Her anger flared, and she reached into her bag for a knife. It was not there, and he was gone.
She left the town by the next train. Her peace was gone, only to be replaced by an uncontrollable rage and a desire to inflict a fatal wound on the woman who had destroyed her life – Dr Gladys Lake.
***
‘She took a bus to Sevenoaks, thirty miles south from here,’ Wendy said on the phone to Isaac.
‘Our new SIO is here.’
‘What’s he like? As charming as you, sir?’
‘Charming is not a word I would use.’
‘Don’t worry. We’ll soon have this woman. We’ll make sure you get the credit for her capture.’
‘Thanks. What can you tell us about Charlotte?’
Larry sat alongside Isaac, the phone on speaker. Caddick sat in his office, looking through the reports.
‘How did you find her?’ Larry asked.
‘Bridget found her on Old Kent Road, CCTV cameras. After that, good old-fashioned legwork. A couple of local constables with
