‘This is Jane Tennison. I hope you don’t mind me calling. I want to firstly apologize for not being able to see you this evening due to work commitments.’

‘Yes, Dabs let me know.’

‘I really would like to have another training session with you.’

There was a slight pause. ‘If you can be at the rifle club by 6:45 a.m. tomorrow I can give you half an hour. Did you get your membership?’

‘No, it hasn’t come through yet, but I can be there tomorrow morning.’

‘Good. I’ll see you at the entrance to the car park to let you in.’ He hung up and Jane was left holding the receiver, wondering if such an early start was going to become her routine.

*

The next morning she put on a tracksuit and sneakers for the session. She had given herself plenty of time to get from Marylebone to Norbiton but had not considered early morning traffic on the A40 or the congestion at Shepherd’s Bush roundabout even at that time of day.

She hit traffic once again as she started on the A316 and finally made her way into Norbiton. Then, starting to get nervous, she missed the turning to the rifle club and found herself going round and round the small streets. By the time she found the narrow road leading to the club, it was already almost seven. Elliott was waiting by the open underground door. He was wearing a grey tracksuit and pristine white trainers, standing with his arms folded.

She drove towards the entry door to the club as Elliott slid the door closed to the car park. He moved quickly to stand in front of her as he put the code in to unlock the entry door, then once inside he deactivated the security alarm. She started to apologize for being late, explaining about the traffic and getting lost, but he made no reply until they entered the club. He had obviously been there earlier as there was a mug of coffee on the counter of the small coffee bar.

‘You mind if I just say something, Jane?’ he said finally. ‘I would have hoped, as a detective, you would have been aware of the traffic and planned things a little better. My time is as valuable as yours.’

Jane could hardly believe it. She was unsure how to even reply.

Elliott looked at his watch. ‘We’ll only have the small-arms range for fifteen minutes now.’ He picked up a metal briefcase and Jane followed him into the range, where he switched on the strip lighting.

‘Until the secretary gets here, we will have to use one of my personal revolvers. I have a .38 Smith & Wesson, but you’re not ready for that so we’ll continue using the .22 revolver.’

Jane stood to one side as he clicked open the gun case. She could see there were four small handguns nestling in the black sponge protector.