"Patrick Murphy." Gina Gold outstretched her hand. They shook hands. "Would you like to talk in the interview room?" She indicated to the interview room in the front office of Sun Hill Police Station. They went in and sat down. "Can I ask, before we start, why did you ask for Sergeant Taviner specifically?"

"Well, I know her, and I thought it might be easier for me to tell someone that I know if you know what I mean?" Gina nodded. "Not that I mind telling you." he hastily added.

"Okay. Well, I'll go and find her for you. Stay here for a minute please." Gina left and found Sheelagh, conveniently, talking to the FDO, Marilyn. "Ah, Sheelagh," Gina said, causing Sheelagh to look at her. "A case for you to deal with." Gina indicated to the interview room. Sheelagh nodded and went into the interview room. She was shocked to see Patrick sitting there with a brick on the table in front of him.

"Alright?" Sheelagh asked, sitting on the table so she was facing him.

"Yeah. How are you?"

"Okay thanks." Sheelagh looked at the brick. "What's that?"

"That is the brick that was thrown through my window earlier today. Along with this note." As he was talking Patrick got a note out of his pocket and handed it to Sheelagh. She read it then asked him.

"Is this the only threat you've received?"

"No. I've received letters that say exactly the same thing." Patrick handed three letters to Sheelagh. They all read:

People with no one to protect them shouldn't run to the police.

"Okay." Sheelagh said, looking at Patrick. "Here's what I'm going to do…" Sheelagh explained to him how she was going to send the brick and the letters off to the lab to see if there are any fingerprints on them. And how she going to organise with her inspector police guards who would stay with Patrick for a time to make sure nobody tried to kill him.

"So I'll have a police officer with me all the time?" Patrick sounded sceptical.

"It's only until we catch them, I promise." Sheelagh put her hand on his shoulder, causing him to smile at her.

"I don't know. Isn't there any other way?"

"If you moved back to Ireland, or into a safe house, but I wouldn't recommend a safe house."

"Why?"

"Because you get cut off from the rest of the world."

"Would I get to see my family?"

Sheelagh shook her head. "I'm sorry. How about we try it with police officers protecting you for a while and see how it goes?"

"Okay."

Sheelagh stood up. "Come with me. We need to talk to Inspector Gold and the Super."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They spent the rest of the day sorting out rotas and briefing the relief that was needed. Patrick cheered up when he heard that Sheelagh would be the first officer to be with him.

Sheelagh drove them back to his flat where they settled down at the kitchen table for a cup of tea and a chat.

"So…how's your family?" Sheelagh asked.

"They are great! They've gone back to their home in Birmingham. They left this morning."

"Oh. They seem nice."

"Yeah. Well, I think so anyway."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They carried on the general chit chat until about 10pm. Sheelagh yawned into her hand then quickly apologised for it.

"There's no need to apologise," Patrick replied, "yawning's natural."

Sheelagh laughed. "That's true."

"Do you want to get some sleep?"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not allowed. It'd be like a security guard going to sleep and allowing anyone in."

Patrick laughed then reached over the table and took her hand in his. "Why don't we watch a film?" Sheelagh nodded and Patrick stood up, keeping her hand in his. He led her into the sitting room, where she let go of his hand and pulled the curtains closed and he looked through his DVDs ad videos. He picked one and started it up then took Sheelagh's elbow in his hand and guided her to his sofa. They sat down next to each other but at a respectable distance apart.

About half-way through the film Sheelagh was struggling to keep her eyes open. Patrick noticed.

"Sheelagh," he whispered. She looked at him and he opened his arms towards her. Sheelagh smiled gratefully and snuggled into his shoulder. Patrick put his arms round her gently and she let him.