Jane slipped out as quietly as she could and went home.

By the time she had had a shower and washed her hair, it was almost 8 p.m. Yet again she was on her own; she thought about ringing her parents but knew she wasn’t in the right frame of mind to go and see them. She hadn’t had time to think about what had happened earlier that morning, and she didn’t know if she would ever see Elliott again. She doubted if Dabs would call again. She wasn’t even sure she would continue going to the rifle club. But the one positive was that she would finally have her name cleared and get the credit she was due.

The doorbell rang. Jane checked the time, wondering who it was. She went to her bedroom window to look down into the street. She knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t resist. She went to the intercom and picked it up.

‘Hello, Dexter.’

‘Hello, Jane. Long time, no see. I’ve got a chilled bottle of Chablis. Can I come up?’

‘Sure.’

She replaced the phone and opened the front door. She could hear his footfalls on the first, second and lastly the third floor. He smiled, holding up the bottle of wine.

‘Have you had a good day?’

‘No,’ she said. ‘But I think it’s getting better.’

Author’s Note

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Operation Countryman

Operation Countryman was an investigation into police corruption in London. The operation was conducted from 1978 to the late 1980s. Eight high-ranking police officers were prosecuted, along with many uniforms, due to evidence provided by a ‘Supergrass’, an informer occupying an important position in the criminal underworld. The ‘Supergrass’ claimed that many officers, including members of the elite Flying Squad, which dealt with commercial armed robberies, were receiving bribes from criminals in return for warnings of imminent police raids or arrests. They were also charged with fabrication of evidence against innocent men and having charges against guilty criminals dropped.

Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank, as always, Nigel Stoneman, Tory Macdonald and Veronica Goldstein, the team I work with at La Plante Global.

All the forensic scientists and members of the Met Police who help with my research. I could not write without their valuable input.

Cass Sutherland for his valuable advice on police procedures and forensics. He is always there when I need him.

The entire team at my publisher, Bonnier Books UK, who work together to have my books edited, marketed, publicised and sold. A special thank you to Kate Parkin and Bill Massey for their great editorial advice and guidance.

Francesca Russell and Blake Brooks, who have introduced me to the world of social media – my Facebook Live sessions have been so much fun.