Dead Like You

there?’
    ‘Yes, that’s exactly the problem. If Proudfoot’s wrong, then he’s still out there. And might attack again.’
    ‘If he is out there, you’ll get him. One day.’
    ‘I want to get him before he attacks again.’
    Cleo pouted her lips playfully. ‘You’re my hero, Detective Superintendent Grace. You’ll always get them eventually.’
    ‘In your dreams.’
    ‘No, not in my dreams. I’m a realist.’ She patted her tummy. ‘In about four months’ time, our little Bump is going to be born. I’m depending on you to make it a safe world for him – or her.’
    He kissed her. ‘There are always going to be bad guys out there.’
    ‘And bad girls!’
    ‘Them too. The world is a dangerous place. We’re never going to lock them all up. There’ll always be evil people who get away with their crimes.’
    ‘And good people who get locked away?’ she said.
    ‘There will always be blurred boundaries. There are plenty of good bad guys and bad good guys. Life’s not clear and it’s seldom fair,’ he said. ‘I don’t want our child growing up under the illusion that it is. Shit happens.’
    Cleo smiled at him. ‘Shit used to happen. It stopped happening the day I met you. You rock!’
    He grinned. ‘You’re full of it. Sometimes I wonder why you love me.’
    ‘Do you, Detective Superintendent Grace? I don’t. Not for one moment. And I don’t think I ever will. You make me feel safe. You have from the day I met you and you always will.’
    He smiled. ‘You’re so easily pleased.’
    ‘Yeah, and I’m a cheap date. I don’t even have one pair of designer shoes.’
    ‘Want me to buy you some?’
    She stared at him quizzically
    He looked back at her and grinned. ‘For the right reasons!’

Author’s Afterword
    ‘Stranger rape’ is actually extremely uncommon. In Sussex, the county in which Dead Like You is based, attacks such as those described are, thankfully, rare. It is in fact the very sad truth that virtually all rapes are committed by men known to the victim. The vast majority of rape survivors describe being attacked by a friend or someone they are in a long-term relationship with. The betrayal of trust caused as a result can undermine their ability to form a new relationship subsequently.
    It is impossible to generalize about the way victims will respond to being raped, because there is no ‘normal’ reaction to such an abnormal act. The trauma can manifest itself in many different ways and there are specialist organizations, such as Rape Crisis, that exist to support victims. One local to Sussex is The Lifecentre, which aims to ‘rebuild’ survivors of rape. I have chosen to support them because I feel they provide a critical service which, incredibly, is not government-funded. Donations are always welcome. Go online and visit their website at www.lifecentre.uk.com if you wish to help. Thank you.

Also by Peter James
    Dead Letter Drop
    Atom Bomb Angel
    Billionaire
    Possession
    Dreamer
    Sweet Heart
    Twilight
    Prophecy
    Alchemist
    Host
    The Truth
    Denial
    Faith
    Children’s Novel
    Getting Wired!
    The Roy Grace Series
    Dead Simple
    Looking Good Dead
    Not Dead Enough
    Dead Man’s Footsteps
    Dead Tomorrow

Acknowledgements
    As ever, there are many people I have to thank for helping me in my research for this novel.
    My first thank-you is to Martin Richards, QPM, Chief Constable of Sussex, who allows me such invaluable access to the world of his police force.
    My good friend former Detective Chief Superintendent David Gaylor has, as ever, been a brick, a pillar of wisdom, and at times has wielded a bigger stick than my publishers in keeping me to my deadlines!
    As always, so many officers of Sussex Police have given me their time and wisdom, and tolerated me hanging out with them and answered my endless questions, that it is almost impossible to list them all, but I’m trying here, and please forgive any omissions. Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Moore; Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett; Chief Superintendent Chris Ambler; DCI Trevor Bowles, who has been an absolute star and a brick; Chief Inspector Stephen Curry; DCI Paul Furnell; Brian Cook, Scientific Support Branch Manager; Stuart Leonard; Tony Case; DI William Warner; DCI Nick Sloan; DI Jason Tingley; Chief Inspector Steve Brookman; Inspector Andrew Kundert; Inspector Roy Apps; Sgt Phil Taylor; Ray Packham and Dave Reed of the High-Tech Crime Unit; Lex Westwood; Sgt James Bowes; PC Georgie Edge; Inspector Rob