It’s been the worst of days but I hope it will become the best of days.  Imagine my shock at turning on my television to see my own reflection staring back at me.  There was a time when I felt that this day was inevitable but I had been so careful and it had become so damn easy. 

There is nobody to blame but myself.  Somewhere I must have slipped up but I cannot fathom where.  One of the reports mentioned something about a new DNA technique but I don’t understand how they could link anything to my name and photo.  There was no time to ponder in any event, only to flee.  I have no doubt that the horrid old woman across the road will report my location to the authorities at once; she never liked me anyway.  Pity I didn’t have time to slit her throat before I left, that would have been fun. 

At least I am finally getting some of the recognition I deserve.  Everybody now knows my name, not just my monikers.  They will realize how truly great I am compared to them and their ordinary, pathetic and meaningless lives.  I will be remembered forever and they will be forgotten.  It is true what they say, there is a silver lining to every cloud. 

Now I am in the unnatural position of being the hunted or at least that’s what everybody thinks.  As if I would be that weak and cower going quietly into the night.  No, there is still time for one last night of fun, a final crescendo.  Just as well all the preparation had already been done and I was already ready to go. 

The target is perfect, my nemesis Garda and his whore.  Oh, how I cannot wait to see the terror on their faces as I rip her to shreds.  They have it coming, which makes it sweeter if that is even possible.  He should never have interfered in my business, the damn fool.  Now he has destroyed my happiness and I will destroy his.  I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on her as I followed from a distance.  Part of me hopes she will resist so I can destroy her physically and emotionally as she gasps for her final breath. 

The house alarm has already been dealt with.  There will be little difficulty getting through a sliding door at the rear of their property.  They really should be more security conscious; you never really know who might come along at the dead of night. 

Now it is only a matter of timing.  It should be a surprise attack and they should have no opportunity to offer a reasonable resistance.  That copper has already caused me too much trouble.  From my surveillance I know that his girlfriend sometimes gets up for a snack around midnight, the pig.  So, it will be, let us say around half one in the morning.  It will be so good; people will finally realize how great I truly am. 

It took patience but finally the allotted time has arrived.  The house is dark and there has been no movement for hours.  She never appeared at midnight, a small break from the usual routine, but not enough to call off the attack given the circumstances.  Those idiots would never be a match for me in any event. 

It is finally time to leave my hiding spot in the hedge but first I look at my surgical knife and wonder how much greater his terror will be, as he knows what the scene will look like at the end.  I can already feel the stirrings of an erection building.  As expected, I can simply walk up the long back garden.  With every step, the excitement builds but then there is albeit momentarily, tension as the sliding door is reached.  But in truth, it’s something that I have done hundreds of times before and it is an easy obstacle to pass. 

Now is the time for stealth.  I must make as little noise as possible.  Having been in the house a few weeks prior, I know what room they are sleeping in and make my way slowly towards it.  Now is the time that makes the rest of my life worthwhile.  I am not a harbinger of death but of unconstrained life.  I gentle push the door open and through the moonlight can see them at rest.  Slowly I go towards their bed, my knife at the ready.  I will follow the usual routine, put it to the throat of the woman to subdue them both. 

But then the stillness of the night is broken, in a flash so fast there is nothing I can do to react.  I hear the sound of something, perhaps the cabinet opening behind me and then the sound of a gunshot.  A second passes before I feel the pain pulverizing through my body as I stumble and then fall to the ground; something has gone seriously wrong, what exactly I cannot fathom. 

A few moments later and the lights have been turned on, dazzling me.  Then I am turned on my back and my ski mask violently torn from my head; I feel naked.  Much to my surprise, it is the cripple’s girlfriend that is standing over me, cursing and jeering me.  It’s like I’m that little boy again being laughed at by my half-sisters.  She had never been in that bed but had rather been waiting for me ready to pounce. 

She discusses with the cripple if they should call an ambulance as I start to choke on my own blood.  Hopefully they will let me die, there is nothing left for me in this world now.  The argument goes back and forth a for a few minutes before they eventually ring nine, nine, nine. 

A few hours earlier 

“I knew.” 

They were the words that shocked Sean the most.  He had no choice but to tell her everything, come what may.  But she had revelations all of her own that came out in tears.  That for a time she had been an undercover agent but that now she truly loved him.  Perhaps such revelations would doom many relationships but not this one.  Instead, they reaffirmed their love for one another. 

Then matters turned to the business at hand. 

“So, we could next?  That’s what you’re saying, right,” Laura said in a concerned tone. 

“Yes, I’m afraid so.  Given, the circumstances I fear it will be tonight.  If you want to get in one of those cars and just keep driving, I totally understand.  I’ll face him alone.  I can’t tell anyone else or I’ll be implicating myself in serious crimes.  Please, just go!” 

“Never, you hear me,” she replied steely, “we will face this threat together.  Both for you and for what he did to all those women.  For this last while I have had this feeling that someone was matching me.  That’s why I left the house while you were away.  I have even taken to checking the security round the house.  The alarm and the security lights are not working so I think it will definitely be tonight.  I’ll stay awake with my gun in the closet all night if I have to and catch him by surprise.” 

“I’ll put one under the pillow too.  If it comes down to it, I’d rather shoot you than let that monster have his way,” Sean said, his voice shaking.   

“It won’t come to that,” she replied clutching his hand across the table. 

Jim didn’t bring Sean back to the hotel this time but straight to the police station where he worked.  The first thing they did after Jim had scheduled a meeting for an hour’s time with his team, was to head straight to the cafeteria as both men were famished.  Unlike Sean’s Garda Station back in Ireland, this station was large, modern and set in suburban surroundings with a fleet of police cars parked outside.  Jim became so occupied introducing “his Irish friend” and talking rather than eating, that they ended up in a rush to make it. 

Sean was surprised by the number of officers that were waiting for them and how the room immediately fell silent when they entered.  Jim immediately took control of the situation and went to the front to face his colleagues while Sean took up a position off to the side.   

“You all know why we’re here.  To catch the Reading Rapist and quite possibly The Irish Ripper.  We have a major new lead thanks to our work with Gen Search X and our Irish friend.  Her name is Jacqueline Huntington and we believe that a very close male relative is the Reading Rapist, most probably her son. 

I know I don’t have to say this, this is to get your total and absolute attention, there is no room for any fuck ups.  The victims deserve their best.  I most certainly want to be able to look them in the eye when this is over.  I have made promises that this bastard will be caught.  Don’t make me a liar!” 

Once he stopped speaking, they all began working like a well-oiled machine. Sean even found Jim’s speech inspiring and found it difficult to just sit there and wait.  However, Jim told him to wait around a while, that his team worked fast.  They had access to a multitude of records, perhaps more than they strictly should have. 

Scarcely two hours later, they had the name of her son, Charles Huntington, his poor school record and the fact that he joined the military for a number of years before leaving for an unknown reason.  Critically, it showed that he was assigned to a barracks near Reading. 

“It’s him Jim, but we could do with further confirmation all the same.  Let’s go the barracks right now and get in front of this,” Sean implored. 

Nothing needed to be said, Jim nodded in agreement with Sean and they were off.  It only took twenty-five minutes to get there; it took longer to meet the Sergeant who was in charge but at least when they did, he was all too happy to be of assistance. 

“Oh yeah, I remember him, he made quite the impression,” said the balding, middle-aged but fit-looking man, “He was some physical specimen, top of his class in that respect.  Normally, when you have a soldier like that, the others would look up to or maybe even aspire to be like him.  But not this time, everybody despised him.  I mean like he had no friends whatsoever.  Not only that, he never had any visitors either.  Even during the holidays, he used to stay in the barracks as if he had nowhere to go.  A bit sad I suppose really.  He did wonder off quite a lot though, nobody had a clue what he was getting up to.” 

Then he continued with a grin, “They had a funny nickname for him, what was it?  Oh yeah, little man Huntington.  Apparently, his wiener was on the small side.  Mind you, none of them dared say it to his face.  Even his superiors were afraid of him and he only ever loosely understood the idea of following orders.  I’d say he would have been brilliant to have on your side in the thick of battle when you just wanted someone to slaughter the enemy, you know what I mean?  A real fucking psycho, but the last person you want to have around, the rest of the time.  Eventually, he just had to go.  Why is it that you’re asking about him anyway?” 

Sean thought it best that Jim should be the one to explain.  It would be better coming from a fellow Englishman.  Jim didn’t sugarcoat it. 

“We have very strong reasons to believe that he is The Reading Rapist and most probably The Irish Ripper,” he replied sternly. 

“Oh good God!” he replied flummoxed before Jim continued. 

“It’s likely that this news will break shortly.  There will be lots of television cameras and journalists around asking questions.  Best to prepare oneself and if I was you, I’d inform my superiors straight away.” 

The Sergeant indicated that he would and they parted.  Sean was now getting anxious to get back to the hotel and his laptop to write an urgent report updating Dublin on developments before the news broke on the television or on the internet; they would not be best pleased. 

The following morning, he felt more refreshed than he had in quite some time as if a huge weight had been lifted from his chest.  The Ripper had finally become the hunted rather than the hunter.  He decided to turn on the television and watch a current affairs program prior to getting his breakfast when it cut to the BBC newsroom with a photo of Charles Huntington in the top right corner of the screen.   

“We are interrupting this broadcast to bring you this breaking news.  Our sources from inside the police are informing us that the Reading Rapist and quite possibly The Irish Ripper has been identified.  The Reading Rapist is one of the most prolific rapists in British criminal history who terrorized women in the greater Reading area.  A revolutionary new DNA analysis was used in his identification.  His name is Charles Huntington and he is a former member of the British Army.   

His exact whereabouts are currently unknown but he is thought to be currently residing in Ireland.  Please be advised that he is extremely dangerous and should not be approached under any circumstances.” 

Sean turned the television off somewhat disappointedly.  The same news would now break in Ireland on almost all channels almost simultaneously.  It would have been better to try and catch The Ripper unawares but he knew the temptation for someone to leak would prove too much.  Sean was sure that Charles Huntington wouldn’t be the type to just give himself up and worried that further bloodletting now lay ahead. 

At that moment, he no longer felt hungry.  Better to get straight back to Dublin.  That’s where all the action was going to be, for better or worse.  With that, he began to make arrangements for his trip. 

Laura, as ever was there anxiously waiting for him when he arrived and did not waste any time in updating him about the turbulence of the day.  Once the news broke, all hell broke loose.  The phone lines just went off the hook.  She had even been drafted in to deal with some of the calls.  Some people just wanted confirmation that it was true, that we had finally identified him, others thought they had seen him them here, there and everywhere.  Of course, then there was a multitude of prank calls, even Laura had received one.  In the darker corners of the Web, The Irish Ripper and his heinous acts were something to be joyous about, especially to many in the Incel community who saw him as the ultimate anti-feminist and took joy in what he had done to the women.  Sean had been told by Jim that were hundreds of websites dedicated to him.  This, of course, meant that the whole force had just been taken up recording telephone calls and callers to the different desks across the country.   

“Damn, that’s what I was worried would happen.  It was inevitable.  But there was nothing that could be done.  Jim had tried to stop the information from leaking but he had privately told me that it was only a matter of time.  The news agencies over there offer big money for important news stories.  Apparently, it was the Daily Orbit that broke the story,” he said somewhat tiredly after what had been another exhausting journey before holding out his hand tenderly for her to hold briefly as pushed his wheelchair along. 

On the drive home, Laura told him that she had something important to tell him. 

“Yeah,” he replied anxiously thinking it was something about The Ripper. 

“No, nothing like that!  It’s not bad, well hopefully you won’t think so.  A few days ago, em well I was chatting with some other female Gardai at the station and they started talking about you.  Your kinda famous at this stage, almost as much as The Ripper himself.  Well, I let slip that we are a couple and now everybody in the station knows.” 

There was a brief pause for a number of moments. 

“What were they saying that you blurted it out?” Sean replied light-heartedly. 

“It’s a bit embarrassing really.  One of them said that she quite fancied you and she started saying sexual stuff.  I just got really annoyed and said that you are my boyfriend.” 

“Well that’s that sorted,” Sean replied with a grin, “and nice to know I have some admirers.” 

At this point, Laura sheepishly slapped his shoulder in mock aggression before they both burst out in laughter.  The happenings though were quite a boost to his ego and Laura could tell that his lovemaking had been quite reinvigorated that night. 

The next morning Sean was restless to get up as quickly as possible and get to work.  He wasn’t quite sure if this had ever happened previously but there is a first time for everything.  His breakfast tasted nicer and the morning seemed brighter.  It was a day of promise.  Even the traffic seemed lighter and Sean was quickly in at his desk.  But this was where things turned.  There were over six hundred emails in his inbox and he could see that an important meeting had been scheduled for first thing in the morning.  He wasn’t even sure how they knew he would be back in time for it.  He only had time to read the first few emails, all about alleged sightings of The Ripper in different locations in the four parts of Ireland.  From the subject lines, Sean could guess that most of the rest was something similar.  Exasperated, he locked his computer and was just about to leave when the phone rang.  He immediately recognized the number as being Jim. 

“Well hello Jim, missing me already?” 

“You did leave all of the sudden,” he replied with a chuckle, “we found the mole.  The man got some shock when he saw Huntington on the television.  He worked here in the station in administration and knows Huntington from his school days, said he was a real loner and would rarely talk to anybody apart from himself.  Said he felt sorry for him.  They had always sent emails back and forth about crime, so it would only seem natural when the conversations turned to discussions of the Reading Rapist or The Irish Ripper.  The poor mite is inconsolable. 

There was another thing, probably nothing.  But he mentioned something about Huntington having this idea that The Irish Ripper had helped some Irish copper once, but that would have to equalize if his back was ever to the wall.  He may have been hinting at something truthful.  I wouldn’t like to be that copper, whatever the hell “equalization” means, it can’t be good.” 

Sean thanked Jim for the call and hastily went to the Chief Superintendent’s office for the scheduled meeting, not quite sure what to expect.  All the time his heart was beating ferociously. 

The Chief and a few other senior Gardai were there waiting for him in a large semi-circle.  He was met with smiles and the Chief shook his hand hard and began to speak. 

“Ireland owes you a debt.  The English officer Jim told us that you made a great contribution while you were over there.  We’re all very proud of you.  The Nation owes you a huge debt.  We’re going to nail this monster.  In fact, we now know that he was residing in a flat in Drogheda.  Alas, it seems he quickly vacated the premises almost certainly after he saw the news reports.  Now, maybe you can bring the rest of the team up to speed on what you know about this Huntington fella.” 

Sean quickly told them everything he knew about the suspect, even that his friend said he was a loner.  What Sean didn’t mention, though was anything about a Garda being indebted to The Ripper.  Then the central question arose – so where is he now?  It was the simplest of questions but with the trickiest of answers.  This was, after all, a man who had managed to evade capture for years.  Sean was the first person to try and take a stab at an answer. 

“He’s a solitary individual who does not tend to get on with those around him.  He has also been expertly trained thanks to the British Army to survive in harsh conditions.  There is a strong chance that he has retreated to the wilderness, perhaps somewhere like the Dublin mountains.  But that is not what I think.  I reckon he’ll try and get in one more kill before he is caught.   After all that is the compulsion that has dominated his life.” 

The room suddenly quietened at the chilling implication.  None of them wanted a repeat of those horrifying murder scenes.  Each Garda station already had a plaque to his murder victims as a symbol of their unending determination to catch The Ripper and the last thing they wanted, was to be adding to it. 

Sean patiently waited in his office for the rest of the day, which passed with more alleged sightings all over the country.  Psychologists on the television were stating that mass paranoia had engulfed the country.  That people were starting to believe that The Ripper was something of a ghost who could hide behind every wall and branch.  They had reason to be terrified but that didn’t help the Gardai. 

All-day, Jim’s message resonated through Sean’s mind, that The Ripper would equalize with the Garda whom he had helped if his back to the wall, which it certainly was now.  As Sean drove into his driveway that evening, he could see from the curtains that Laura was already there. 

He shuddered at the thought that he might already be too late.  Perhaps the attack had already commenced and he had done nothing to prevent it.  For a few panicked moments, he struggled to leave his car.  He was relieved to see that she was perfectly okay when he opened the front door but he knew that now was the time he would finally have to act. 

“How was your day darling,” she cheerily greeted him.  But once she saw the look on his face, her tone quickly changed. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“It might be best for you to sit.  There’s some stuff you need to hear.” 

Instinctively she knew that this something very serious.  So, she stopped working on the dinner and pulled up a chair to see what he had to say.

Sean had never heard the company name Gen Search X before, but he knew all about them by the end of that day.  It was founded in England a few years previously in a back garage and had now become a worldwide enterprise after exponential growth employing thousands of people all over the world that was most famous for allowing individuals to discover their genetic history.  After you sent them your DNA, they could tell you what percentages of your DNA came from each region of the world.  This had proved incredibly popular especially with Americans who had varied ancestry throughout the world.  Less so, with the likes of Sean who was Irish through and through, and had no doubts about where his ancestors had come from in the last thousand years or more. 

Sean really couldn’t understand the excitement in Jim’s voice when he said that he had sent a sample of The Rippers DNA for them to analyze and cross-reference with their datasets.  Its Chief Executive Officer had contacted him, first via email but then on the phone when that was ignored and explained that her company had heard that that the investigation had hit a roadblock with The Rippers DNA and that they may be able to help.  Her name was Dr. Jennifer Winston, a quite brilliant woman of immense intelligence who had been with the company since the get-go; fluent in multiple languages with a doctorate in Biology.   

Jim informed her that the police on both sides of the Irish Sea had already failed to find any DNA match for The Ripper and couldn’t see how this company, despite their immense resources, could be of any further assistance.  But then in exquisite detail, she explained what they could bring to the table.  There would be no fee, this was to be a philanthropic exercise and the company was only to get credit of any kind if the help they provided led to his arrest. 

“You see my Irish friend; this time is very different.  They have a huge bank full of the DNA of ordinary people who have used their services.  Who knows maybe The Ripper was interested in his ancestry?  Nah, we wouldn’t be that lucky,” he chuckled. 

“But there has to be a good chance that he has an inquisitive second cousin or maybe even a few fourth cousins.  We can discover his identity through the connections they have with each other, join the dots so to say.  By linking the related DNA from each person.  Now you see why I’m excited!” he finished sheepishly. 

Suddenly, the grounds for optimism dawned on Sean and he too became entranced by the idea.  There was no way that The Ripper would have foreseen this development and Sean wondered was that this the reason his last attack was so different, even desperate.  Compared to his previous butchery, it was far riskier, as if in a panic.  Perhaps, that’s because he had heard of the new-fangled partnership and did just that.  That would point to the leak coming from England.  Without hesitation, he relayed his thoughts to Jim. 

“Well yeah, lots of people have heard about the sample being sent just prior to Christmas.  Oh good gawd, I see what you mean.  It definitely points to some sort of connection with the police service over here,” he replied almost sympathetically for what had later happened, “but it is a good sign we’re getting closer.  To think of all the lives that have been ruined though.” 

It was unlikely to be one of the police officers or an administration worker.  There were none on leave at the times of the different murders, so there was no way they’d have the time to travel to Ireland to commit them.  It must have been someone who is close to a police officer and one that is quite content to talk about the case at that.   

“I’ll put out a general edict to tell officers of my now grave suspicions and for them to come forward if they suspect anyone,” said Jim.  “To be honest I always presumed the leak was in Ireland.” 

Both officers agreed that their discussion would remain private for now, it would be cruel to raise the hopes of so many people only for them to be dashed.  It was just as important that each police officer was fully motivated to follow each line of possible inquiry. 

 Of course, there was one person Sean was always going to tell, no matter what he had promised, but Jim would have guessed that anyway – Laura.  It made for a good nighttime chat as they lay in bed.  Other couples would have been engaged in a passionate embrace or a nighttime snuggle but this was just as good for them.  She was just as excited as they had been if a little disappointed that the potential breakthrough was still a few weeks away.  She was further intrigued by Sean’s theory of why the last murders were The Ripper’s riskiest to date. 

“I don’t know how you do that,” she said, impressed as she gazed affectionately into his eyes. 

“What?” he replied inquisitively. 

“Keep a level head, like in the midst of such horror.” 

Sean had never looked at it like that before.  In many ways, it was a gift but at times it must make him appear cold, unfeeling.  Either way, he had a job to do and that was all that really mattered. 

A few minutes later, they turned off the lights but they both struggled to fall asleep, though hiding it from the other.  Sean was both excited and wary about what lay ahead; the nightmare was hopefully finally coming to an end but how many more murders would be committed first and was there anything he could do to stop them.  Restless, he found himself switching from side to side all the time trying not to disrupt Laura’s sleep. 

Laura was anxious although she hid it well.  She found herself growing Increasingly worried for Sean; he was under so much pressure, but the worst of it he put on himself.  Although it did seem like a very significant breakthrough, she fretted about his reaction if it turned out to be another blind alley, he was putting so much hope in it.  But all she could do at the end of the day was to be there for him and give him as much support as she could.  She knew that Sean would be there for her too and that is what being involved in a committed relationship meant to her. 

With each passing week, Sean grew tenser.  There had been no further murders since but Sean was anxious for things to progress to the next level.  It had not taken long for the secret to get out and now his superiors on the back of the Minister for Justice were constantly seeking updates that just didn’t exist.  Sean had to keep giving the same tepid response – soon. 

Of course, with each passing day that became a less and less satisfactory response and he soon found himself ordered over to Reading once again to personally oversee the investigation on the British side and communicate with Dublin.  This time though only a select few knew of the arrangement so as not to give any encouragement to the Ripper to carry out a further murder in England like last time.  Laura wasn’t happy to see him go, this time there would be no fixed return date but duty called. 

He was to stay at the same hotel, which he now guessed he should look at as his home from home, at least for the time being.  This time he had to make his own way from the bustling airport using a taxi but Jim promised to meet him first thing in the morning with the promise of news. 

Sean waited patiently for Jim all morning but he did not make an appearance till the early afternoon.  He was quite bored with England now long having lost its luster. Their reunion though when it did come was like that of two old friends who hadn’t seen each other in an age.  For a few moments, they discussed old times like when they first met and how they would never have predicted that they would end up seeing so much of each other.  Then the conversation turned to the matter at hand; the Gen Search results were back. 

As expected, there was no direct match, that would just have been far too fortuitous but some relations had been found.  There were four that were of particular interest, three in Britain and one in the United States.  In fact, one of them lived close by, only an hour away by car.  Jim had already contacted him by phone that morning and much to Sean’s excitement that was where they were heading right that moment.  

With that, they went outside and got into the police car with two other officers.  Jim was too engrossed with the case to bother with any introductions.  It was like he was excited to have a peer to talk things through with, excitedly leaping from one aspect of the case to another.  On the way he explained that they were going to see a student who took the test, like most people, just out of curiosity; he had not yet been told of what the interview was about.  Daryl Cockburn was his name. 

The journey only took about forty minutes so Sean had no time to dwell on what lay ahead.  He was now outside his jurisdiction in any event and had been instructed that his role was only to observe and report.  They pulled up in the parking lot of what appeared to be large, student flat complex, which was teaming with life. 

One of the officers promptly stated that he was in flat-number fifty-seven and reassured Sean that there was wheelchair access.  Sean would certainly have hoped so or else this would have been a wasted journey.  They promptly got out of the car and after asking one of the students for directions headed to the flat that turned out to be just two minutes away. 

Daryl was not what they would have expected from someone related to The Ripper.  He was thin, bespeckled with long, curly black hair in ripped jeans and stunned by the number of coppers that had shown up at his doorstep.  Jim, who had talked to him earlier that day quickly introduced himself but it was soon apparent that he was keener on talking to Sean, whose photo he had seen on the internet. 

The other three students who resided with him were at lectures or had gone off for the day so Daryl invited them into the living room and turned off the television.  Jim whispered into Sean’s ear that protocol would be set aside and he could ask the questions, an opportunity he relished. 

He started off by telling Daryl exactly why they were there and that they hoped he would be willing to assist in their endeavor.  The smile on his face told them that they had his full committed attention.  It turned out that Daryl was quite the talker and only too happy to tell them everything he knew.  This was more interesting than anything he could have expected when he sent away his sample. 

It quickly became clear that there were a few snags.  One was that he came from quite a large family, with over thirty first cousins alone.  The other was that he struggled with some of their names and had no idea when it came to more distant relations. 

“You don’t know the names of all your first cousins?” Sean said somewhere between amusement and agitation. 

“No, some of them sure I’ve barely ever met,” he replied before adding, “It’s my Mum you should really talk to, she’s great with that sort of thing.” 

Sean asked for her number and gave it to one of the officers to see if he could get her on the phone.  Then he turned his attention back to Daryl. 

“The man we’re looking for is athletic, fit, intelligence and strong.  But he’s also a psychopath who would have struggled with relationships and forming a normal human connection with anyone.  Now, I want you to think hard for the next minute or so, does anyone in your family remind you of that?” he said in a deadly serious tone. 

Daryl for the first time went quiet for a few moments. 

“No, sorry sir I can’t think of anyone.  Like, a few of them are a bit mental but nothing on that scale.  Then there are others who like to keep fit, but in all honesty, I wouldn’t call them athletic,” he replied quietly. 

Sean reassured him that that was fine, this was about collating as much information as possible.  Then he thanked him for his assistance.  By then, the officer had his Mum on the phone, who was reticent about divulging any information at first till her son managed to talk her round by telling her that she would never forgive herself if she didn’t help. 

She was of much greater assistance, all of which was dutifully taken down by the officer.  It was with a great sense of accomplishment that Sean was left back to his hotel.  Alas, the next person of interest was a much greater distance away in Grimsby, so they would be setting out early the next morning.  That night, Sean typed up his report and emailed it back to Dublin; though he downplayed his own role in case it would cause any difficulties in the future. 

Then he rang Laura on her mobile and was surprised to find that she would be staying at her Moms while he was away as she was getting a creepy feeling staying on her own.  That was not like her, but he tried to put any worry out of his mind. 

The next morning Jim was there in the foyer as arranged.  There would be only the two of them this time, as no other officer could be spared.  Sean could tell from Jim’s demeanor straight away that he wasn’t overly hopeful of making progress today.  After Sean had maneuvered into the passenger seat, Jim told him that this time, they were heading to a nursing home.  This was not something either of them had expected. 

Sean immediately asked if he was serious, but he insisted that he was.  They were going to see a woman called Martha Delaware.  He wasn’t able to elaborate any further only that she was in her late eighties. 

It was a long drive and the two men had by now exhausted their list of things to talk about leaving long periods of silence.  Sean found himself daydreaming of Ireland and especially Laura.  It was with a sense of relief that he saw the nursing home that was their destination.  It was a large complex, all on the one level.  Everywhere was white, giving it a medical aura.  Most of the residents were in wheelchairs, some looked alert whereas others appeared to be sleeping. 

An attendant, a young woman with a wide warm smile immediately approached to ask if she could be of assistance.  Sean let Jim do the talking. 

“We’re here to see a Mrs. Delaware,” he said in an official tone whilst showing his badge. 

“Oh yes!” she replied excitedly.  “They are expecting you.” 

She pointed to the door that they were to go to.  Neither of the two men was quite sure what to expect as Jim knocked on the door. 

It only took a few seconds for the door to open and they were met by a slender middle-aged woman with a posh accent. 

“My name is Mary.  Please come in.  My Mum is the woman you are here to meet, you really have caused the most unexpected excitement around here!  Even if it somewhat macabre.” 

Martha, who was sitting patiently in her wheelchair beside her hospital bed, gave them a warm welcome.  They were only too eager to answer any questions the officers may have had.  When Martha’s memory became fuzzy, her daughter was there to fill in the blanks. 

It was still painstaking work though as there were multiple large families in her ancestral line.   

“Well Mommy was from a family of eight, her Mom from a family of twelve and her father had six siblings,” Mary said expertly. 

Sean couldn’t but roll his eyes, which led to much laughter all round.  He left Jim the arduous task of jotting down all the names.  Eventually, though he got bored with the recording and decided to go for the jugular. 

“I hope you don’t mind me asking Martha but is there any part of the family that as we say, a bit odd?” he interrupted inquisitively. 

“Well, there’s quite a lot odd in the extended family, but I guess there is odd and then there’s what you’re looking for, I guess.  My brother Robert had a strange one alright, her name was Jackie Huntington.  Some fool knocked her up and did a runner.  She married a right bastard too from what I heard.  None of the rest of the family would have anything to do with her.  She wasn’t just odd; it was much more than that.  She was a cruel and heartless woman.  If there was something she could jeer or torment you about, she would.  She had a younger sister, who was what you call slow and she was awful to her, I was told.  Now that was many moons ago and it is a man that you are looking for but maybe, I don’t know…” 

Martha’s lucidity then failed somewhat and she went off on an unrelated tangent.  Unfortunately, Mary a few minutes later when Martha had needed to rest could add nothing more except to say that Robert was still alive, but only just, having been riddled with cancer.  He was currently getting end-of-life care at a hospice and was only expected to last another two weeks at most.   

“It’s probably nothing, we’ll be in touch if we need further details,” Jim informed her before taking down her telephone number.  The two officers thanked her for the assistance before heading back to the car. 

The drive back seemed to take longer, perhaps it was because they were both tired.  Eventually, Jim broke the silence. 

“Well, my Irish friend do you think we’re getting any closer to our man?” 

“Oh yes, we’ll get there.  Soon the fog will lift and we’ll have him in our sights, there will be nowhere for him to hide,” he replied with a steely conviction that surprised Jim. 

The comments were to prove prescient.  Two days later, interviews had also been conducted with the other two people that harbored some of The Rippers DNA.  Jim raced to the hotel to inform Sean of the results.  They should have listened more closely to the old lady. 

Jim saw that Sean was having his lunch in the hotel restaurant through a window but that wasn’t going to deter him; simply flashing his ID at the waiter and walking past.  Sean was quite surprised when Jim suddenly pulled up a chair beside him waving a piece of paper with a neatly laid out diagram with different people’s names and their relation to each other.  Such was his excitement he didn’t bother with the usual pleasantries. 

“Look!  This explains everything and we’re so very close.  Martha is related down the maternal line whereas Daryl is related paternally.  The other two people’s DNA confirms this.  See, here it appears that the old lady could have been on to something.  It could possibly be a son of Jackie Huntington.” 

Sean immediately set aside his dinner and asked if they had already contacted her.  Jim said that he rang on the way over but she hung up once he said that he was police and from her tone, she didn’t seem like the cooperative type. 

Sean instinctively knew that they needed to get to Robert, while they still had an opportunity.  Taking charge of the situation, he told Jim to ring Mary and find out his whereabouts.  Fortunately, Mary perhaps expecting the call was able to give him the location, but she added that he was now in his final hours. 

Just a few moments later, the two men were driving to St Michael’s Hospice, in the heart of London.  They turned on the siren, every second could prove vital.  For a time, they made great progress but their frustration grew as they hit outer London and were hit with gridlock on all five lanes.  They turned off the siren and tried to be patient.  Gradually, they crawled into the city proper and Jim then had a good idea of the best streets to take.   

“I always wanted to visit London again even if the circumstances are not what I would have expected,” Sean said jokingly to lift the mood. 

“When we get this bastard, you’ll be coming again and I’ll show you all the good spots,” Jim replied sternly. 

A few minutes later they had reached their destination.  It was not what Sean would have expected.  It was on a busy street and it actually took them a few minutes to find somewhere to park that Sean could actually get out safely into his wheelchair.  Apart from the name hanging over the entrance, there was nothing to signify that the red brick six-story building was any different from the ones that surrounded it. 

Anxious to reach Robert in time, they hastily went inside.  The change in atmosphere was immediate.  The hustle and bustle of the street immediately changed to serenity.  There was a shop that was covered in flowers immediately on the left side and a reception desk with seating on the right manned by nurses.  They skipped the queue and went straight to the top where a middle-aged nurse began to admonish them. 

“You can’t do that! Please take your place at the back!” she said in astonishment but once Jim showed his ID, her tone immediately softened and she checked for Robert’s location on the computer in front of her. 

“Oh yes, he is on the fourth floor, in the L Block.  I tell you what I’ll go with you.  This place is like Fort Knox without a swipe card and I’m due a break,” she said helpfully. 

Jim immediately agreed and they began their journey through a labyrinth of corridors and lifts.  Every turn was indistinguishable from the last, the only noticeable change is a change of lettering on the overhead signs.  A chill went down Sean’s spine as he thought of the anonymity of death in places like this.  Sure, the patients smiled as he passed by, but he wondered if they were little more than a number to the people who worked here.  Or perhaps, it was just his distaste for medical settings since his accident. 

After a few minutes, they reached Robert’s room, which he had all to himself though it immediately became clear that probably didn’t make much difference to him one way or the other.  Looking extremely frail and pale, he was being attended by a petite, young attendant who inquired if they were family or friends.  Her face became somewhat despondent when the nurse that had come with us told her they were not, but police who wished to speak with him. 

“I fear that you have come too late, he’s been unconscious now for a little over an hour and I doubt he’ll open those eyes ever again.  I had hoped you were family; I hate when we’re the only people here to say goodbye,” she said with a smile. 

“Did his family visit at all?” Jim inquired noting that there were no photos or flowers in the room. 

“Not that I’ve seen,” she replied sadly, “Well apart from some distant relations.  He did mention when pressed that he had a daughter and a grandson but they’ve not shown up.  I gathered that they were estranged and haven’t spoken for many years.  Shame, because he really was a sweet and lovely man.  To be estranged at ninety-six years of age…” 

“Well he couldn’t have been perfect if the police want to talk to him, was he a bit too fond of the kiddies back in the day or something?” the middle-aged woman who was still standing inquisitively in the hallway interjected. 

This alarmed Jim, who didn’t want to tarnish the old man’s reputation in his final moments and insisted that he was not suspected of any wrongdoing.  Sean then asked if they could have a few moments alone with him to at least pay their respects giving a knowing glance to Jim.  With that, they closed the door leaving the men alone with Robert.  Sean took charge of the situation and told Jim to stand in front of the camera that he had spotted in the corner, hoping it was the only one. 

“Well it doesn’t look like you are going to be able to willingly give us your DNA, now does it?” Sean whispered to Robert, “But you know from what people have told us about you, I have no doubt you would have.  Ah, look, at that drool coming from your mouth.  You’re at least entitled to some dignity.” 

Sean took a tissue from his shirt pocket and wiped the man’s mouth.  Then he handed it to Jim who placed it in a small plastic bag.  Then they waited a few minutes.  In that time, Robert took his last breath.  The two men said little to each other until they were back in the car.  They now had a prime suspect for the Reading Rapist and The Irish Ripper, and possibly the proof to imprison him.   

Months passed and once more there was no more sign of The Ripper.  It was as if he had just vanished once again but few thought it would become permanent.  Christmas was now fast approaching. 

Usually, it was a time of year not relished by Sean but this year was different, and Laura was that difference.  Her enthusiasm and exuberance gradually rubbed off on him and he found himself looking forward even if he knew it meant getting her an expensive present. 

He would be spending the day at her mother’s house.  Laura had assured him that she was an excellent cook.  Her father had died two years previously and didn’t want her Mum spending the day alone.  In any event, she lived in Navan, so it wouldn’t be much of a drive in any event.  He wondered what her Mum thought of her daughter dating someone in a wheelchair. 

In the intervening period, Sean’s notoriety within the force had grown immeasurably.  He was now considered somewhat of an expert on the behavioral science of homicide and had found himself being called out to multiple murder scenes to give his opinion.  It didn’t matter if the scene was up a flight of stairs, his fellow Gardai were happy to lift him and his wheelchair up. 

It was assumed that because he had voluntarily gone to see one of The Ripper’s slayings, that there was nothing that could phase him.  But that wasn’t totally true and he found himself having sleepless after visiting one particularly gruesome scene.  Though the Garda who found it first had to retire afterward. 

He had moved office as a result and was now playing a central role in the new Garda Behavioral Unit.  The central focus was still the hunt for The Ripper, but it also encompassed much more than that with three Gardai now under him and at his disposal.  In truth, he wasn’t quite sure what he thought of that as he had never seen himself as a boss or manager.  At times, he felt awkward giving orders and being responsible for discipline but he persevered.  He was also very lucky with the young Gardai who had been top of their class, that were allocated to him.  They were eager to learn everything they could from him and hung on his every word, so unlike him during his early years.  They also worked ferociously; Sean was almost always the first one to head home at the end of the day.  But he did find himself wondering if they would have the required grit for what lay ahead. 

For instance, Sean already had to visit a crime scene where a man with very severe mental health issues decided to attack and kill his roommate for no particular reason whatsoever.  There had been no disagreement, nothing to cause the frenzy of stabbing.  Then he decided it would be a good idea to cut up his victim to examine his heart and brain whilst smearing the walls with blood.  Nothing can prepare one to witness such things. 

But as cases go, it was an open and shut case.  He said that voices told him to do it.  There was no need for a court case, it was straight to the Central Mental Hospital for him, where almost certainly he would reside for the rest of his days. 

That was the worst he had come across; the rest were more palpable.  The young woman stabbed violently by her jealous boyfriend and the old homeless man kicked to death for a few laughs amongst others.  Sean could compartmentalize all these murders without difficulty.    

But still every night, it was The Ripper that he thought about last at night.  He wondered where he was now and what he was up to.  His instinct told him that he had returned and it was only a matter of time before his next atrocity.  He hoped that his fellow officers wouldn’t end up with their own Ripper to torment their nights.   

There was one other thing that bothered him too and it was the thought of the work Christmas party. It was scheduled for the week prior to the big day itself.  Strangely this used to be the only thing he liked about this time of year but this would be the first year that he would be going coupled up.  Nobody else would know that though and they had decided they would arrive at different times, but still, he worried he might get drunk and snap if he saw someone chatting her up.  Still, they both had to go, not showing up was not an option as their colleagues would not be impressed.   

Some decorations had been put up around the station by now, save for the public areas.  They couldn’t allow the ordinary criminal to think they were going soft but behind closed doors, there was a bit of a buzz.  It was a pleasant distraction from what seemed his ever-increasing workload. 

Ireland as a country loves to do Christmas.  Whether it’s the round the clock of ads on television with a Christmas theme, the office Christmas party or the street lights you’ll always know it’s that special time of year.  On the day itself, the country literally comes to a halt.  It is a religious or family day, like it or not.  Some Irish people find it strange when they visit other countries and the day is barely marked.  Maybe you need long nights with dreary weather to really appreciate the celebration. 

Sean need not have worried about the party.  It passed by without incident.  Sean behaved impeccably not even having much to drink.  It was all so different than his old life, at times he almost felt nostalgic.  The old him would have spent the night trying to get drunk and get laid.  Of course, that life was far easier when he didn’t have to rely on a wheelchair.  Whereas once as midnight approached, he would have gone looking for ladies to occupy him for the night; he now found himself hemmed into a corner forced to chat with those closest to him.  Fortunately, he was quite content with this knowing that Laura awaited him that night. 

She didn’t know, but he had bought an engagement ring the day before.  Yes, it was fast but he was certain that she was the girl for him so there was no need to wait.  Furthermore, she had hinted at times that it was what she was hoping for.  As they would lay in bed at night, she would instigate conversations about their future lives together and how they could still have children together.  These were the type of conversations that Sean thought would never happen to him in the days after his accident. 

He was planning to do it Christmas Day after dinner; it would be perfect.  Hopefully, she would say “yes” and then they could celebrate with her Mum.  If things went badly, he could drive back to his own house to rethink everything.  But he was optimistic that things would go well. 

As the day grew closer, Sean found himself growing more and more nervous, and unsure if he was doing the right thing.  But all he had to do was think how much his life had improved because of her and it refilled him with a steely determination. 

So, it was that he found himself at Laura’s Mum’s house on a crisp Christmas morning with a ring in his pocket.  Both women gave him a warm hug on his arrival.  He had only met his Mum, a petit old woman with flowing gray hair once before and he was glad he was already being welcomed as a member of the family.  It was hopefully a positive sign for the rest of the day. 

He went into the sitting room to watch tv while they continued preparing the dinner.  Then just as Laura came in to offer him a cup of tea, his mobile phone rang.  This was most unexpected and he answered it immediately.  It was the dreaded news he feared, The Ripper had struck again and he was expected at the crime scene as soon as possible. 

He knew from Laura’s shocked facial expression that she knew what had happened.  She told him that she would keep some food for him for later as he wheeled himself out to the car.  Sean grimaced as he thought about how The Ripper had spoiled his big day.  But there was nothing for it but to see his latest handiwork.  All he knew was that the latest attack happened on the outskirts of Swords from the GPS coordinates he had been given, which would take about fifty minutes to reach.  During the drive, he began to fear what he was heading to.  This was almost certainly going to ruin the day for the whole country. 

It took what seemed an age to reach there.  The house, a large two-story mansion surrounded by a formidably tall wall had already been cordoned off.  Sean drove down the long driveway through an opened electronic gate, this would have been the last place that he would have expected that The Ripper to target.  Garda Cummins, one of his subordinates was there waiting outside for him.   

As Sean got out of the car and into his wheelchair Garda Cummins tried to speak but couldn’t.  Sean looked up and saw not a Garda but a broken man with pale, sickly face and tears rolling down his face.  For most people, there is only so much grisliness the mind can take, so Sean told him that he would go in alone once he saw there was no step in the front door. 

As Sean entered the house the first thing he saw, was a large majestic Christmas tree adorning the central hall, full of decorations with numerous presents laying unopened underneath.  It stood in stark contrast to the horrendous scene just a few feet away in the dining room. 

It was another family annihilation.  Sean tried to numb his mind before entering the scene but to only limited avail.  It is impossible to inoculate oneself against such a stomach-churning scene.  The scene was eerily similar to the last family attack. 

A male in his forties and presumably his two sons, not yet teenagers tied to chairs with their throats slit.  The blood had flowed from their necks and into a puddle that was just a few feet from the woman who bore the greatest savagery.  Her naked, battered and mutilated body bore all the hallmarks of The Ripper.  Sean felt incredible disgust, the horrific scene with the joyous decorations, it was as if hell itself had been to visit. 

Nevertheless, Sean knew he had to steel himself for what lay ahead.  The family deserved justice and he was probably the only one that could deliver it.  Yes, the scene was similar to previous murders but also very different.  Something had irked The Ripper and he hadn’t chosen as soft a target.  This time he had attacked an upper-class urban area.  There were likely to be CCTV cameras everywhere. 

Sean immediately took control of the situation and set up Garda teams to go house to house and to talk to people in the neighborhood to see if they had seen anything suspicious. 

It wasn’t long before Sean’s suspicions were proved correct.  For the first time, The Ripper had left valuable evidence behind.  Part of the attack had been captured on CCTV from the house on the opposite side of the street.  For the first time, after many years he had been caught on camera. 

It showed that the previous night The Ripper already wearing his ski-mask and black clothes had easily managed to scale the wall, a formidable athletic feat.  Several Gardai would try it the next day but only one came close to accomplishing it.  As suspected, The Ripper was a very fit, athletic and agile man.  He simply opened the electronic gate on the way out as it still remained. 

Unfortunately, The Ripper had destroyed the CCTV recording at the victims’ house, although given that he was already in full regalia it may not have provided more clues in any event.  There was more surveillance gleaned further down the street showing him walking on the footpath towards the house.  Irritating though, he appears out of a small park where none of the cameras catch him. 

Over the following days, one of the largest funerals ever to be held in Ireland occurred on a damp, miserable day as all the victims of the latest atrocity were laid to rest in a joint ceremony.  Sadness pervaded the city and disillusionment grew about the effectiveness of the Gardai.  Sean and Laura attend, Sean all the time trying to keep an eye out for suspicious mourners.  He knew from the FBI materials that he read that serial killers often attended such events in order to glory in their actions.  Laura told him to relax, that there were too many people and anyway, the whole thing was being recorded from afar in any event.  Later, Sean would spend hours poring over the videos but to no avail. 

The investigation now felt very personal.  Sean was beginning to feel like he knew all the victims personally; he had spent so long looking at their photos and reading about them.  For instance, the latest victims were a banker, his much younger wife, and children.  Their oldest son suffered greatly from dyslexia but had started making good progress at school.  That was all for naught now.  As Sean saw the coffins in the distance, he thought of the battered and mutilated bodies he had seen.  Sometimes, it was all too much as tears rolled down his face.   In that, he was similar to most people at the time, broken and terrified; wishing the nightmare would finally come to an end. 

Then for a split-second, Sean thought he saw something as he glanced up and away from the casket being lowered.  It was fleeting and in the far distance as the burial of the youngest and final child was taking place.  Later, he would check the CCTV for that location but it was obscured by a large oak tree.  Perhaps, it was nothing, just his mind playing tricks on him.  Perhaps, it was something and a missed opportunity. 

Over the next few weeks, the pressure on Sean grew more and more intense.  The country as a whole no longer cared about drugs, sex slavery, robberies or even crime generally.  Nobody talked about homelessness or hospital waiting lists anymore.  There was only one topic of conversation – The Ripper. 

Parents would complain about their children being terrified and wetting their beds; teenagers and young adults stopped venturing outside and the elderly tried to stay awake all night.  He had already captivated the country but now, true to his name, it seemed he might rip it apart too.   Where once there had been marches, now there were protests; the largest of which was held in front of the Dail. 

It was having a major effect on Sean.  It had been a long time since he had a full night’s sleep but now it was the overwhelming pressure to find a breakthrough, or at least have something meaningful to say at the next meeting rather than just the nightmares that made it impossible for his eyes to remain closed throughout the night. 

He was also starting to argue with Laura each night.  He knew that none of this was her fault, but it seemed now even the most minor of things would set him off.  This fact made him feel even worse about himself.  All he knew was that he now dreaded the thought of life without her and he couldn’t risk losing her like he had lost Aimee no matter what.  So, then thoughts of just quitting the force entered his head.  Perhaps they could just both sell up and go live on some quiet Caribbean island and never have to hear tell of The Irish Ripper again. 

It was while he was daydreaming of that island that he got a call from Jim in England.  It was a call that would change things utterly. 

Sean always had the inclination to believe that The Ripper would be identified through his earlier rape crimes; he was still the only police officer to be a hundred percent convinced that he was the Reading Rapist.  Each night he would pore over the documents from England, hoping to see something that had been missed till then.  Occasionally Laura would do the same but it was all to no avail. 

Then one night as they lay in bed, Sean had a sudden burst of inspiration, a true eureka moment.  In his excitement, he woke Laura from her slumber so that he could tell her immediately lest he forgets it during the night.  At first, she thought there was something wrong but was soon also entranced by the idea. 

The Reading Rapist was extremely proficient at breaking into houses to carry out attacks; he must have learned it beforehand.  Perhaps, he had been a run of the mill house burglar prior to escalating to rape; this would have given him the opportunity to perfect his skills. 

But the thought that really excited Sean was that it was unlikely that he was so careful all that time ago and just maybe he left some evidence behind that could identify him.  Finally, it seemed there might be something to get excited about.  He struggled to sleep afterward that night with his mind racing from thought to thought. 

The next morning, he immediately contacted Jim, who by now was the official contact person in England.  He too was enthralled by the idea. 

“So, your theory is that like many criminals, he has evolved over time and our best bet to catch him is from a crime he committed at the very start?” 

“Sin e,” Sean replied in Irish, much to Jim’s befuddlement before confirming in English, that yes, he was correct. 

Then discussions turned to how exactly they would find his earliest crimes.  Sean inquired if they had a criminal database.  They did, but it was hard to know what the right inquiry would be.  There would literally be tens of thousands of both solved and unsolved burglaries on the system.  They would be proverbially looking for the needle in the haystack. 

After a half-hour discussing the matter back and forth, they decided that the first place to start would be to do a profile of the young Ripper.  He would have many of the same characteristics as in the profile from the FBI, but would surely be in his late teens or very early twenties back then.  Almost certainly he would have problems with authority and would perhaps have been expelled from school.  The Reading Rapist was both prolific and intense, committing all his crimes in a relatively short burst.  Perhaps, his earliest phase of criminal activity was likewise.  

Gradually, both officers began to feel that they had built up a pretty good picture of who they were looking for.  But what they were seeking would be impossible to glean from a computer, rather it needed the human touch.  Jim then said he would formally write to the head of each police station throughout England that day, hoping to jog their memories of a burglar who might fit the bill. 

Then all they could do was wait.  Each morning Sean would open his email first thing in the morning at the kitchen table on his laptop, hoping for a lead but each time he was met with run of the mill spam messages.  There was a lot riding on this now and as two weeks turned to three, he felt overcome with disappointment. 

But then just as he was about to retire home one evening, he got a message from Jim.  He had received a communication from the station in Bristol of a suspect who might just fit the bill.  In the message, Jim promised to send on a much longer message later that night. 

After writing a short reply acknowledging the exciting news Sean went straight home, hurriedly had something to eat and anxiously awaited by his laptop.  Close to midnight, it finally arrived but that did not deter Sean from reading it over and over again. 

The subject line was the “Bristol Burglar”.  It was about a prolific burglar who terrorized the city of Bristol and its environs for a period of one year before he abruptly stopping.  The houses targeted resembled those later targeted by the Reading Rapist.  The suspect was also implicated in a murder.  There were parallels and it certainly could be the same man. 

Sean now almost felt like he could reach out and touch The Ripper; that what was once so elusive was gradually coming into focus.  Jim was going to Bristol the next day.  The case of The Irish Ripper was now a high priority case for the English police too due to its international notoriety.   

Sean wished he was over there rather than waiting on the sidelines.  He wasn’t the only one and he soon found himself on a ferry ordered to follow up the lead in Bristol.  It was one of very few lines of inquiry and the Gardai wanted to be seen as being proactive. 

It had come as a bit of a shock to Sean but he was determined to grab the opportunity with both hands.  It gave him a huge sense of pride too that his superiors now trusted him with something so important and he was anxious not to let them down.  This was something he had never felt previously, even as an able-bodied officer. 

Laura dropped him off at the airport.  She was excited for him but also nervous hoping that the trip would be a success.  After a passionate kiss, as if long lost lovers they parted.  On arrival in England, Jim was there waiting for him.  Sean barely recognized him though; he and a female companion were dressed in immaculate suits as if royalty was expected.  It was very different from the first time they met, disheveled in a loud, noisy pub. 

Jim gave him a warm hug, telling him that it was great to see him again and put his bag that had been hanging on the back of the wheelchair into the car.  Her name was Elizabeth, a slight fresh-faced woman in her mid-twenties and she greeted him with a warm smile.  A swift maneuver and Sean got into the back seat of the car, while they went in front. 

Sean was surprised and somewhat embarrassed to learn on the long road trip that he was now a local celebrity especially among the police; he even felt some hero worship emanating from Elizabeth.  Jim had told everyone that would listen about his great detective from Ireland in the wheelchair. 

If only he could arouse such affection back in his own home town, he thought quietly to himself but then quickly turned the conversation to the reason he had come – The Bristol Burglar.  Jim was only all too eager to talk him through all the details but first told their companion that their current theory was that Bristol was the training ground for the Reading Rapist who would later become the Irish Ripper.  Elizabeth gasped, saying that she didn’t realize The Ripper was also on the radar. 

The Bristol Burglar operated over a period of twenty-one months.  During that period, he was responsible for one murder and a hundred and twenty-five burglaries.  Most of The Burglar’s activities involved breaking into houses, searching through and vandalizing the owner’s possessions, scattering any women’s underclothing he found, stealing coins and low-value or personal items, while often ignoring banknotes and other valuable items in plain sight. 

Sean knew that this signaled that this was no ordinary thief motivated by a desire for monetary gain, but instead he was seeking a different thrill of power over his victims.  This was the very beginning of the evolution of The Ripper. 

Jim further expanded that the MO or method of operation also mirrored his later suspected crimes albeit with much lower levels of violence – 

• scaling fences and moving through established routes such as parks, walkways, ditches, and trails. 
• attempting to pry open multiple points of entry, particularly windows. 

• leaving multiple points of escape open, especially windows as well as house, garage, and garden doors. 
• moving removed window screens onto beds or into bedrooms. 
• placing “warning items” such as dishes or bottles against doors and on door handles. 
• wearing gloves (given the absence of fingerprint evidence). 

It was only upon reaching the hotel where Sean would be spending the night that Jim with a wide smile relayed what could be the most important detail.  They had retrieved DNA from two of the crime scenes and would have the results the next evening.  Sean could feel his heart almost stop.  Finally, he – the infamous Ripper -would be within their grasp. 

Sean woke early the following morning having had a restless night.  His mind was too excited for rest with different thoughts constantly zipping in and out of his mind, and he found himself moving from side to side unable to sleep.  This could be D-Day and he might yet be returning to Dublin a hero. 

Jim was somewhat surprised that Sean was waiting for him in the lobby when he arrived but was starting to get used to the peculiarities of his Irish friend. 

“So, are you ready to see Bristol.  I thought we’d drive around a bit to try and get a better idea of the place?” he said in his loud and strong Yorkshire accent. 

He merely received a nod in return but that was enough for him to know that Sean was satisfied with the idea.  As they drove through the city, Jim explained that the city was smaller than Dublin but still quite large.  It was the suburbs they were most interested in and especially those neighborhoods that had been most ravaged by the Bristol Burglar.  It amused them somewhat that they might even be driving past where he had grown up.  Just like his later crimes, the neighborhoods targeted were filled with bungalows.  It was thought they were easier for him to do his surveillance on, he didn’t want any nasty surprises in the midst of an attack. 

As midday approached, they headed to the local police station to see if the DNA results were back.  They needn’t have bothered; the results were in but there was no match on the databases of known offenders in either the United Kingdom or Ireland. 

A sense of shock and disappointment emanated from both Sean and Jim.  This was supposed to be a moment of triumph but it felt like the man that they were after was just as elusive as ever.  Sean wondered if this was the way it would always be; that The Ripper was just too good and would never be caught. 

That night they both retired to the bar at the hotel would be staying for still three more nights.  He had worried that his stay in England would be too short, but that when he was contemplating a major breakthrough, in the case.   That seemed like little more than a pipe dream now.   

He asked Jim if he should just go home the next day but Jim urged him to stay, that he should at least see some of the sites.  Sean decided there was little harm in staying and sure he could do with a bit of a break anyway.  Jim stayed late into the night as they regaled each other with tales of previous cases that they had worked on. 

Two mornings later and Sean was really wishing he had left as he lay on the bed when he received a text message from Jim that something had happened and he would be there in thirty minutes to collect him.  Sean knew that it must be something very important so he quickly got dressed and went down to the lobby. 

Jim was there anxiously waiting for him.  His face was pale and he looked quite sickly.  For a moment, he just stood there in silence. 

“It’s The Ripper!” Jim said in a broken voice. 

“What?” Sean replied, trying to coax another few words out of him. 

“Hee’s struckk here in Bristol!” 

Sean could hardly believe what he was hearing.  The monster must have followed him he thought to himself.  The attack had occurred less than five kilometers from where he was staying.  It was probably a message for him personally.  There were two victims, both women. They were butchered during the previous night. 

Somewhat to his surprise, Jim was there to collect him and bring him to the scene.  Sean had never previously been to a murder scene but didn’t want to seem weak or disturbed in front of the Englishman so he raised no objection.  In fact, he thought, this was a great opportunity to further immerse himself in the case. 

It didn’t take long to reach the scene.  There was a mournful crowd of people surrounding the cordon that they had to push through.  Once more, it was a single-story house that had been targeted.  Sean thought he was prepared for what he was about to see, but he was wrong.  Crime scene photos don’t convey the smell of death or show you the happy family photos on the mantlepiece with the mutilated corpse a few feet away. 

Both officers could only stomach it for a few short minutes, although neither said it explicitly to the other.  It was unspoken.  Sean had seen enough though to know it was the work of The Irish Ripper, unexpectedly far from his usual stomping ground.  From the photos, it was easily ascertained that the two female victims had been in a lesbian relationship, with one being quite butch and taking on more typically masculine characteristics like short hair and wearing a workman’s clothing; the other more femme, with long blonde hair and wearing dresses. 

It appeared that The Ripper was happy to accept these gender roles judging by the macabre scene that was before them.  The femme woman took the most punishment.  As in previous murders, she had been raped and left terribly mutilated having suffered multiple stab wounds with one of her breasts removed.   

The more butch woman simply had her throat slit; her role was simply to watch horrified as her loved partner was savaged. 

Jim mentioned it would probably for the best if they left the scene before journalists showed up, which was likely to be any second now.  Sean nodded in agreement; he didn’t want his face appearing in the papers either.  The two men spent the rest of the day together discussing the implications of the latest development. 

As they chatted gloomily in the hotel bar, they both agreed that it could be no mere coincidence that The Ripper struck in England while he was there.  The Ripper knew about Sean’s trip and had given him a sick surprise present.  This meant that the killer was either a police officer in Ireland or England or one was feeding him information perhaps inadvertently.  This was a disastrous scenario.  If the media got hold of it, which was probably only a matter of time they would have a field day.  It was as if The Ripper had found a new way to taunt them.  

So, it was with a dark cloud hanging over him that Sean returned to Ireland and Laura’s warm embrace.  It appeared that the trip had only been to document a further slaying.  However, his superiors didn’t seem to share his pessimism being particularly impressed that Sean had the gumption to visit the murder scene and wondering why he had never done so in Ireland.  When he replied that he had simply never been asked, he was told that was to change from here on in and to keep a mobile phone on his person at all times.  Although it may have just been the hope that The Rippers move to England would become permanent that had lifted the mood somewhat, they wanted out from his shadow any way possible. 

Laura would never admit it, perhaps not even to herself, but she was immensely relieved on Sean’s return even if she would never admit it, not even to herself.  She wasn’t even sure why exactly and perhaps it was even nonsensical. 

It started a few weeks before Sean had even left: a feeling of being watched.  She knew that she was being silly, and thought it was perhaps a figment of her imagination, but the feeling persisted.   A feeling some of her stuff had been moved.  Her apprehension had gradually grown so bad that she had more or less moved in with Sean.  Even though he was in a wheelchair, his presence made her feel secure and safe. 

This was an embarrassing fact for someone working in the drugs branch of the force where bravery was expected as a given.  But the strange thing was that she felt fine when she was on the job.  When it was patrolling the street or charging headfirst into a drug bust with the possibility of getting a bullet there was no problem whatsoever; it was when she was in a house on her own that her fear surfaced. 

Maybe, she had just heard one too many tales of The Ripper from Sean; he was always telling her how he would leave his tools around the house prior to an attack and she constantly found herself searching everywhere for them just in case she was the next one on his list. 

So, when Sean left for a week, she made arrangements to stay with her Mum who was a bit perplexed but kept her counsel not wanting to bother her daughter.  It was a longer drive for Laura to go to and from work, but it was worth it for peace of mind.  Then news reached her of the attack in England.  At first, she could not believe what she was hearing.  She wondered what were the odds of The Ripper and Sean visiting England at exactly the same time? 

Very low, she thought to her herself and her mind turned back to when she was investigating Sean and the murder of Billy.  The Ripper must be keeping a close eye on Sean.  Her heart swelled with terror but mostly for Sean’s safety, as she was now deeply in love with him. 

Her fears were compounded when Sean rang her and told her excitedly that he had been given the opportunity to visit the latest murder scene telling her all the grizzly details.  She tried her best to sound no more or less interested than normal so as not to show her distress or give him an idea of her concerns.  That could wait for some other time, she just told him that she couldn’t wait for his return.  But also, so she could prepare for any future attack. 

So, it was with a warm smile and a loving kiss that she greeted him as he disembarked the ferry.  His disheveled appearance and obvious hangover were inconsequential. 

Finally, the day came for Sean to return to work; it was almost like he was starting a new job such was his feeling of trepidation.  Laura told him not to worry, that he wasn’t the first Garda to go off the rails and he would be warmly welcomed back.  Sean, however, had his doubts but proceeded nonetheless.   

Of course, there was a part of him – albeit quite small – that wanted to return.  There was little to stimulate his intellect during the day, daytime tv just didn’t cut it and there was very little else for him to do.  At least, his drinking had filled the day if nothing else. 

Nobody at the Station knew of their relationship and they had agreed that was the way it would stay for now.  In fact, they decided they would stay apart as much as possible so there wouldn’t even be a suspicion, although Sean was quietly worried that might mean there was nobody, he would be able to have a friendly chat with.  In truth, her new post meant that she wouldn’t be around much anyway.   

So, they kissed each other goodbye and Sean headed to the Station, while she headed towards the next drug bust in Finglas.  The traffic was light, the kids were on their summer holidays.  It was to be an icy, cool day. 

Sean arrived early as he had planned, he wanted to at least start off on the right foot and made his way around the back of the station as usual.  He was able to get to his desk with barely having to glance at another officer.  His desk was clear as he would have expected, so he turned on his computer to read his emails; being anxious to create a decent first impression after having been off for so long. 

Over the morning different Gardai came in to welcome him back and to say how happy they were that he was doing better; some of the conversations lasted just a few minutes but others were longer, with one almost going on for a half-hour.  The atmosphere in the place was much better than he had remembered it. 

The Superintendent visited him just before eleven.  Like the others, he told him that he was happy to see him back but the topic of the conversation quickly turned to operational matters.  Sean was informed that he would be doing the same role as before.  In fact, it was only realized what a truly valuable job he was doing when he was gone. 

But he would be eased back into it and for the first two weeks he was to do his routine administration and avoid “The Ripper Case” altogether, there was to be no late hours or bringing work home.  Quite a lot had changed since he had been out sick; the force had realized things had to change.  Sean wasn’t the only one that had suffered psychologically from the gang warfare and then “The Ripper”.  Many Gardai had counseling, the take-home message was that they could only do their best, this was a marathon, not a sprint.  

Then the Super left his office and Sean readied himself for a tea-break.  Unexpectedly, Jack put his head in the door; they hadn’t seen each other for months and gave each other a warm smile.  He had made an effort to come in especially on Sean’s first day back, which was much appreciated. 

The canteen seemed much busier than he had remembered it and he asked Jack if his mind was playing tricks on him causing a startled look.  It was not his imagination, more Gardai had indeed been recruited.  “The Ripper” had caused such consternation among the public that the police went to the number one priority for the Government. 

Sean quickly changed the subject to keep the mood upbeat.  Instead, they talked about Jack’s new girlfriend.  She was a nurse and over ten years younger than him, which caused both of them to laugh.  For some reason, Sean had always envisioned him with an older woman, although he was never quite sure why. 

All too soon, the break was over and it was time for them to part, with Sean heading back to his desk.  He followed the advice he had been given and took it easy for the rest of the day.  He would be taking it one day at a time but knew eventually he would have to face his demons.  Later that night, Laura was full of questions about how his day had gone.  She was so happy to see back at work but secretly, she had some reservations and wondered if she was right to encourage him to do so.  It had taken so much to return him to his old self. 

Over the next few days though Sean showed her that there was little to worry about as he went from strength to strength.  He even had new colleagues to meet during his breaks.  Then one night as she gazed into his eyes, she asked about “The Ripper”.  It was the first time that she had mentioned him since they had got together.  To her, this was a real acid test to whether he was back to himself fully as it was something he used to talk profusely about. 

“Funny, you should ask,” he replied almost excitedly.  He then explained that it had been no ordinary day, he had received a phone call out of the blue from the state pathologist just before he left for the day.  It was about the latest victims of “The Ripper”; in particular the adult woman.  Hair from her vagina had been removed. 

Laura didn’t need to ask anymore to know its significance.  It hinted that there may indeed be a link to the Reading Rapist and justice could be a step closer to finding him. 

“What are ya going to do now?” Laura asked instinctively, her mind now more in a work default setting. 

Sean then explained that he would ring the Super first thing in the morning to try and get permission to contact England.  Hopefully, they might have got some lead on the Reading Rapist in the meantime.  They both found it hard to sleep with their hearts racing and a myriad of different thoughts swirling through their minds all involving the hunt for the killer. 

The next morning Sean rose early in an upbeat mood anxious to get to the Station as fast as possible.  He could never remember such enthusiasm going to work before as he imagined that just maybe they were on the verge of a major breakthrough.  Of course, he had suspicions about the link for months but at least now he had evidence that he could actually use to back it up. 

He rang immediately on reaching his office.  Alas, it went straight through to voicemail so he left a message to contact him urgently.  The wait was excruciating but fortunately, he was a patient man.  The return call came just before lunchtime, but unexpectedly, it was just before lunch and in person rather than over the telephone. 

This time the Superintendent was very interested in what he had to say and listened attentively.  DeRossi had since been moved on and he had now been given full authority over the team.  Sean told him about the signature both of them had in common, in at least some of the instances and more general information about the Reading Rapist.  When Sean mentioned that the Rapist enjoyed further humiliating his victims by ringing them months after the attack and breathing heavily down the phone line, the Superintendent opened his mouth in astonishment, he had received that some of the relatives of victims of The Ripper were getting similar calls.  He had heard enough and gave Sean the authority to contact England and notify Interpol; Sean was now to take a much more central role in the hunt for The Ripper. 

Finally, Sean felt things were starting to go in the right direction and perhaps finally there could be some justice.  Sean had sworn to himself that morning that he would never return to his old corrupt ways; the fate of those children forever changed him.  There was no doubt about who would be the first person in England he would contact. 

“Ah Sean, how are you my Irish friend?” 

Jim was always so welcoming on the phone and for a quick second, Sean wondered was he like that with everyone.  It’s amazing how quickly the human mind can sometimes drift, but he refocused after exchanging pleasantries. 

“I think I know where your rapist is gone,” Sean said emphatically. 

With that, he updated Jim updated on the latest developments, especially about how The Ripper was now displaying the same twisted behavior of taunting his victims and the same signature of removing hair from the vagina of at least his latest victim. 

“So, that’s where the bugger has gone, we were wondering what had happened to him.  It was like the attacks just stopped one day and we never knew why.  We were just jolly happy that they did,” Jim said in exasperation when Sean had finished and further promised to do everything he could to help.   

However, much to Sean’s disappointment, no progress had been made in establishing who the Rapist was in the intervening period, not even a hunch.  Nevertheless, they decided to share everything they had with each other even though it heightened the risk of a leak to the press.  Sean made sure to get a copy of everything so that he could look at it at home too if need be. 

Any other girlfriend would be repulsed by the gruesome and macabre photos left on the kitchen table, but she was no ordinary girlfriend and relished the opportunity to pore over the evidence; although even she could not bear to look at the children’s slit throats; everybody has their limits.  

She then called out for Sean who was busy studying various documents.  Once he saw that she had arrived, he wasted no time giving her an update about the day’s events.  She was enthused for him, but also a tad jealous that he had managed to become so central to an important investigation, while she was dealing with minor drug dealers. 

That night was a passionate one.  Sean was reinvigorated by the thought of being that bit closer to nabbing The Ripper and it heightened his sexual desire; Laura was only too happy to reap the benefits. 

But it was a false dawn, The Ripper would not be felled so easily.  Days turned into weeks and then months, but the hoped-for breakthrough never came.  All that seemed to happen was an increase in the number of victims, infuriating Sean as he once more gradually began to feel impotent and beholden to The Ripper’s next move.  If only there had been a scrap of DNA evidence or the like or indeed anything at all. 

The next development in the hunt came from a potential victim of the Ripper that narrowly avoided a horrific fate for her and her family.  She was gardening when she discovered his toolkit and a ski mask.  Petrified, she rang the shocked local Gardai immediately who were at the house within ten minutes.  The house was then searched and an item to tie people up was found; he had already been inside. 

The location in the foothills of Kerry was a vast distance away from his last attack although the rural location was somewhat similar; there was a wooded area close to the house but it was beside a very steep hill rather than a lake.  It was likely that he had intended to carry out a further attack imminently. 

Surely, he must have left some vital piece of evidence behind but no, there was nothing.  All the Gardai could do was to put out an alert to the general public that they should regularly check their homes and gardens for anything suspicious. 

But the public’s patience was now wearing very thin as the palpable anger grew to breaking point over the failure to catch the killer.  A protest was held on O’Connell Street and each day angry people phoned in to the radio stations as if to vent before an explosion occurred.  Sean had a feeling that The Ripper would be loving all of this, being the center of the nation’s attention.   Some tried to point this out in the midst of the frenzy but they would be quickly shouted down.  Every time a murder would occur, he was the first thought on everybody’s mind and the first suspect to be ruled in or out.