Events in Bradninch had well and truly brought the mood down. Marcus had made his excuses and disappeared off to do whatever Handlers did in their downtime – reports most likely – leaving the three of us stood around like prawns.

Colonel Knowles had known absolutely nothing about the case, and hadn’t done anything much beyond trying to flirt with me using appalling innuendo and double-entendre.

Christ, this is really having a shit effect on our mojo, I thought as we all just stood around staring at each other.

‘Right, this is balls. Who’s up for a few drinks and a bit of a laugh? Girls’ night out?’

‘Sounds good,’ Ragnhild agreed, nodding her head.

‘Okay, that’s two, Dawn, you coming?’

‘I’d love to, but I’m utterly shagged and said I’d meet a mate for a quick pint. You two go ahead.’ She looked anything but tired, but I wasn’t going to push it.

‘Make sure you get a taxi home,’ I said as I pulled her in for a hug.

‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,’ she whispered before pecking me on the cheek and giving me a squeeze.

‘Shall we?’ asked Ragnhild offering me her arm.

The evening went swimmingly. Dancing, drinking, dancing and some drinking. Lots of laughs, no hassle. It was as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

All too soon we were at Ragnhild’s hotel room.

‘I had a brilliant evening,’ she said. Her fingers brushed mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my entire body.

‘Me too, it was wonderful,’ I smiled. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as she held my hand.

‘Well, good night,’ she said leaning in for a kiss goodbye. ‘Unless you fancy a night cap?’

‘Love one,’ I said mouth dry.

‘One what?’ she asked coyly, opening the door.

‘Night cap.’

‘Nothing else?’ and then she leant in once more and kissed me. Full. On the lips. What followed was the best night I’d had in a long time.

*

‘Good morning,’ Ragnhild whispered into my ear before giving me a long kiss on the lips.

‘Morning yourself,’ I smiled. ‘I could get used to waking up like this every morning.’

‘I’m going to have a quick shower, fancy making me some coffee and breakfast?’

‘You cheeky mare!’ I laughed, throwing off the cover and snatching up the room service menu. ‘Full English with tea and coffee and extra helpings of toast?’

She stretched, which considering how tall she was took a long time and gave me a chance for a good eyeful.

She’s bloody gorgeous I thought, admiring just how strong she was. Not in a He-Man type way, but in a practical fitness. Lithe, well proportioned, fabulous abs. A warrior’s physique rather than a poseur’s. Functional. With plenty of stamina. Something she’d more than demonstrated last night.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

‘Like what you see?’ she grinned, twirling her hair and fluttering her eyebrows outrageously.

‘I’ve had better, but beggars can’t be choosers,’ I laughed.

‘And with that, you horrible person, I’m off to have a shower!’ We both laughed as she flounced into the bathroom.

Picking up the phone, I made our order, smiling when I was told it would take at least 15 minutes to be delivered.

As the shower started, I decided to join her.

*

‘We really should decide what we need to do next,’ said Ragnhild as we lay entwined on the bed.

‘I think I’m going to have another slice of toast,’ I said, reaching across her to snag a slice and a small pot of marmalade.

‘You’ know what I mean, Jane,’ said Ragnhild, slapping my arm.

‘Ow! That’s spousal abuse!’ I laughed. ‘Once I got past the fwah fwah and haw haw of the Colonel, he was actually quite helpful. I think the poor chap is a bit lonely. Knows that people think he’s a bit odd.’

I didn’t mention that the Colonel and I had talked openly about some of his experiences. He’d spent a lot of time overseas carrying out assignments on behalf of the Merlins. Even spent some time with Seelie Team Six, the world’s best Special Forces team. Not that many people had heard of them. Unlike Mundane special forces, they tended to keep more in the shadows. It was unlikely that there’d be a best-selling book about their activities. Which was a shame, as their exploits were utterly legendary.

‘What did he say?’

‘Two things of interest. The first is that he keeps an eye on everyone in the village. And I mean everyone. He’s slightly paranoid due to his past so likes to know when people come and go in the village. Uses Crows of all things.’

‘Fascinating,’ said Ragnhild in a dry tone. ‘The point?’

‘The point is that there’s been someone nosing around the village, asking about someone called Crispin Temperance. The Colonel said that the stranger made him decidedly nervous.’

‘Any description?’

‘Lots of leather, shoulder-length dark hair, goatee, piercing eyes and a distinct air of menace around him.’ The colonel hadn’t struck me as someone who was easily cowed, so for him to say that the stranger was menacing was something I took to heart.

‘And Crispin Temperance?’

‘Distinctly unpopular. And no-one has seen him since the body was found in the rec. Challacombe has sent the dentals records and the victim’s DNA is also being checked. The sort of person who likes to hang around the school when he doesn’t have kids. Marcus said he’d find out if he had a record.’

‘Judging by the state of the body I’d say that Crispin is a rather ironic name,’ said Ragnhild. ‘Reckon the dark and mysterious stranger was the one who killed him?’

‘I think that it’s too much of a coincidence. Which I don’t believe in when it comes to murders.’ I sighed, rubbing my face. ‘God this whole thing makes me so tired!’

‘We’ll solve it. Stop any more killings. I have faith in you,’ said Ragnhild, patting my arm. ‘Did the colonel get a name?’

‘No. Just that it was a white guy, mid-30s , ruggedly handsome.’

‘Ruggedly handsome?’ chuckled Ragnhild.

‘The colonel’s words, not mine. I think that despite the threat factor, he was quite smitten with our suspect.’

‘Well okay then,’ smiled Ragnhild.

‘Anyway,’ I said, dragging the word out, ‘I’m certain that this dark and handsome stranger was responsible for the death of Crispin.’

‘And we’re back to my original question. What next?’

‘We wait for Marcus to confirm what we know,’ I replied. And then, as if I’d Summoned him, my phone started ringing and Marcus’ name flashed on the screen.

‘Morning Jane,’ Marcus said as soon as I accepted the call. ‘Good time to speak?’

‘Yeah, go,’ I said as popped the phone on speaker so that Ragnhild could listen.

‘Crispin Temperance is on our and Mundane records as a sex offender,’ said Marcus. ‘This most definitely confirms that our killer is a vigilante.’

‘Absolutely no chance that someone has taken out a Mark with words like “terminate with extreme prejudice”?’ asked Ragnhild.

‘None,’ said Marcus, his tone suggesting that he was insulted at the question. Agents were professionals, and made their kills as quick as possible. ‘This is most certainly a vigilante.’

‘And we don’t know if the vigilante was a victim, or whether they are on a crusade of justice,’ sighed Marcus. ‘Which is vexing, to say the least.’

‘Why?’ I asked.

‘Because if they were a victim, we could get an aged photograph from the seized computers, take it back to the Colonel and see if he recognised it,’ he signed again. It was clear that the case was affecting him as much as it was me.

‘Seems like we’re going to have to go through Ragnhild’s list of known victims, filtered by age and gender, pull any photos that match the records and go back to Bradninch.’

Marcus replied that he would carry out the work and get back to us as soon as possible. Leaving myself and Ragnhild with a suddenly spare few hours. Of which we made the most.