I knocked on the door, plastering on a smile. Moments later, Chima stood there, effectively barring my way.

‘Can I help you?’

‘Ah, Chima, I’m sorry to intrude. I was just looking for George to tell him I’m leaving now.’

‘I’ll get—’ Chima’s words were interrupted by the sudden, unexpected sound of a baby crying. The dark, damp bloom on her T-shirt grew slightly larger.

‘I’m babysitting,’ she explained quickly.

‘How old?’ I enquired.

‘Three months today.’

‘What’s his name?’

‘Zelie. Her name is Zelie. She—’

‘Can I help you, Mrs Ealing?’ George strode into view, moving his daughter back with one hand, to stand directly in front of her. His expression tightened almost imperceptibly as he looked at me. I was in his space now and he wasn’t happy about it, and what’s more he wasn’t bothered about letting me know that.

‘Oh, George, I just came to tell you that I’m going to head off now. Thank you for letting me see Dan’s study.’

‘Did it help, Mrs Ealing?’ His tone was soft, but those brown eyes of his were giving me ice burns.

‘Not much, but it indicates a possible route forward.’

‘Well, I hope it works out for you.’

Ever the butler, George didn’t ask for further information.

‘Thank you, George. By the way, I don’t think I caught your surname?’

‘Davison. George Davison.’

‘Thank you for your hospitality today, Mr Davison. I appreciate it. It was a pleasure to meet you, Chima.’

I turned round and the smile fell off my face. I left the apartment, troubled.

forty-seven. Troy

Jarvis turned to us, a finger to his lips. He beckoned to Libby to pass him the slat of wood she’d dropped. Her expression, her whole body, tense, Libby picked it up and handed it over without a word. Jarvis waved us to one side with his free hand, indicating that we should get out of the way before he switched off the light. Whoever it was outside, they had obviously gleaned that something was wrong. A shadowy figure, illuminated by the street lamp, stepped back from the door, their shadow retreating. Libby and I moved into the sitting-room doorway out of harm’s way, watching as the shadow advanced slowly and the front door was cautiously opened.

A man stepped warily into the darkened hallway. The street light outside revealed the outline of a gun in his hand. Jarvis waited for him to take a further step before darting out from behind the open front door and bringing the wooden slat down hard on the gunman’s hand.