Peter Stewart

As they say, what's going to happen between now and dead?

As they say, what's going to happen between now and dead?

And especially if you were nearly dead anyway.

And especially if you were nearly dead anyway.

So you've changed bits? I've changed little bits of it. But they say, don't they, write about things that you know, and it's easier to adapt a personality of a person that you're already familiar with than it is to come up with someone from scratch. Oh, absolutely. Couldn't agree more.

So you've changed bits? I've changed little bits of it. But they say, don't they, write about things that you know, and it's easier to adapt a personality of a person that you're already familiar with than it is to come up with someone from scratch. Oh, absolutely. Couldn't agree more.

And also to be basing a story around an area you know, because then you've got the geography, you've got the buildings, you can describe things much more easily.

And also to be basing a story around an area you know, because then you've got the geography, you've got the buildings, you can describe things much more easily.

A giant earth-moving truck, overloaded with brown clods of earth, stopped in the centre of Reigate Town. DS Fran Itzkiewicz looked up and turned to DS Ron McTierney, who was walking alongside her. When out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a man grab a handbag from a middle-aged lady 50 yards further down the high street outside the M&S store.

A giant earth-moving truck, overloaded with brown clods of earth, stopped in the centre of Reigate Town. DS Fran Itzkiewicz looked up and turned to DS Ron McTierney, who was walking alongside her. When out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a man grab a handbag from a middle-aged lady 50 yards further down the high street outside the M&S store.

A figure in a grey hoodie looked up and then dashed down the alleyway that led from the high street towards Priory Park. McTierney set off in pursuit, sprinting the first stretch. He was not as fit as perhaps he should have been. He visited the pub more often than he visited the gym. He reached the corner and began panting. The bag snatcher had reached the bottom of the slope.

A figure in a grey hoodie looked up and then dashed down the alleyway that led from the high street towards Priory Park. McTierney set off in pursuit, sprinting the first stretch. He was not as fit as perhaps he should have been. He visited the pub more often than he visited the gym. He reached the corner and began panting. The bag snatcher had reached the bottom of the slope.

The wind buffeted McTierney's face as he reached the end of the alleyway. On one side, the air vents at the back of M&S thundered in his ears. On his left, the brick buildings gave way and opened out to reveal a concrete wasteland stretching 200 yards across to the entrance of Morrison's supermarket.

The wind buffeted McTierney's face as he reached the end of the alleyway. On one side, the air vents at the back of M&S thundered in his ears. On his left, the brick buildings gave way and opened out to reveal a concrete wasteland stretching 200 yards across to the entrance of Morrison's supermarket.

A narrow road quickly split into two, one leading back around the store, the other skirted along the edge of Priory Park and provided a shortcut through to the western side of town. McTierney scanned the park horizon. No sign of the snatcher. And then, suddenly, a dark shape dashed across the road 150 yards ahead of him. McTierney began to run.

A narrow road quickly split into two, one leading back around the store, the other skirted along the edge of Priory Park and provided a shortcut through to the western side of town. McTierney scanned the park horizon. No sign of the snatcher. And then, suddenly, a dark shape dashed across the road 150 yards ahead of him. McTierney began to run.

He reached a corner, stopped, and his eyes swept across the horizon. He wasn't even sure what gender the snatcher was. Black hair, shortish, probably male, probably a middle-distance runner. McTierney arrived at the front of the supermarket. The snatcher had turned the corner and was heading south up Cockshot Hill.

He reached a corner, stopped, and his eyes swept across the horizon. He wasn't even sure what gender the snatcher was. Black hair, shortish, probably male, probably a middle-distance runner. McTierney arrived at the front of the supermarket. The snatcher had turned the corner and was heading south up Cockshot Hill.

McTierney ran across the car park entrance and swung across the traffic lights on the junction.

McTierney ran across the car park entrance and swung across the traffic lights on the junction.