The light was fading, and she was a hundred yards away, now moving towards him, but these days he could spot them a mile off. The signs weren’t obvious, just subtle clues in the way they all dressed; sometimes a slight hesitation in the walk. But there was no question.

She was one of them.

He slid back behind the van, waiting for her to get closer before he checked again, careful not to make it obvious he was watching her. But he’d timed it perfectly.

As he broke cover she had already turned into the tiny garden outside number 14. She walked up and rang the bell, hands clasped nervously in front of her while she waited. She didn’t look round as the door opened inwards, spilling artificial light on to the step. Then she was gone.

But it meant this was the place.

He felt a flicker of anticipation. It took time and effort to identify these locations, mainly because the participants were understandably cautious. In this case it had taken him two months to convince his primary source he was genuine. Although it looked like his patience was about to pay off.

He spent the next forty minutes watching other guests arrive. Nineteen in all, mostly lone individuals. When he was sure that no one else was coming, he crossed the road and walked towards the house.

He reached the garden, walked up to the door.

And rang the bell.

7

Hawkins turned into the car park outside her house and pulled up next to Mike’s Range Rover. The black 4x4 still gleamed after being returned by the insurance company a few days ago, having been damaged quite badly in the chase that ended their last big investigation. The repairs had taken more than a month.

And he still wouldn’t let Hawkins forget that she’d been driving at the time.

Since its reappearance, Mike had taken every opportunity to state that the off-roader just didn’t feel right, and denied having mentioned a desire to change cars several times before the crash. Hawkins suspected the whole thing was a convenient excuse. He’d already started looking.

The Range Rover’s presence also meant that, as usual these days, he’d beaten her home. She locked the Giulietta and walked round to feel the 4x4’s bonnet. It was cold. He’d been here a while. She checked her watch.

Nearly eight o’clock.