Career of Evil

Robin wants to pursue the Brockbank lead. However, Strike insists that she return to Catford to speak with Stephanie. When Stephanie emerges from the flat, her face is badly bruised. Expressing concern, Robin offers to buy her lunch. Stephanie reveals that Whittaker beat her up when she tried to stop him from leaving the flat. Robin discovers that Stephanie was with Whittaker on the night Heather Smart was killed. However, their conversation is interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Whittaker. Disconcerted by Whittaker’s predatory gaze, Robin leaves. Afterward, she chastises herself for lacking the courage to give Stephanie her number.

Robin calls Strike, revealing Whittaker’s alibi. Distracted, she takes a wrong turn and becomes disoriented. Robin drops her phone as a man grabs her from behind.

Strike is in Bow when he hears Robin cry out. Keeping the line open, he borrows a stranger’s phone to call the police. As Strike hails a taxi, he hears Robin’s rape alarm. Returning to the call, Robin says her arm is cut and she cannot see due to the dye from her rape alarm. However, she is safe, and passersby have called an ambulance.

At the hospital, Robin learns that she needs surgery. Apologizing to Strike for messing up, she reveals that she used her self-defense skills and then scared her attacker off with the rape alarm.