After what he had put us through, I didn’t regret Jon’s demise. Not for a single second. Jon had had regrets about what he was doing to me, but not enough to stop.

As far as he was concerned, friendship was sweet, but money was sweeter.

And then there was Tobey.

When should I let him know that I knew what he’d said to Jarvis about Eva? When should I let him know that I could read lips? It had seemed like a useful skill for me to learn as I was teaching my brother the bastardized version of Albion sign language Sonny had taught me many moons ago. Three terms of once-a-week evening classes at a literary institute near to chambers had given me an excellent grounding that had come in very useful over the years. Through the course of my job, I also knew what declaring someone ‘sunset’ meant. Eva would never see another dawn – and Tobey had ordered that. As a barrister, a judicial officer, I had a duty to report what I had discovered. But I knew that Tobey had done it so that Eva couldn’t come after any of us again. That was my dilemma. Tell the police or stay silent forever. After wrestling with my conscience for hours, I’d decided to keep my mouth shut. What kind of hypocrite did that make me? The biggest kind. When it came to protecting my own, I was no better than the man currently in my kitchen.

Thoughts like scalpels sliced away at everything I thought I knew about myself till there was little left. The coming of the dawn brought with it bitter self-awareness. I was a fake. What use were my so-called ideals when they were so easily discarded?

‘Callie, here’s your tea. I’m sorry it took so long. I got embroiled in a phone call while I was downstairs.’

Painting on a smile, I turned. ‘Thanks, Tobey.’

‘It’s the least I could do.’

The smile fell off my face as I watched Tobey straighten up after putting the tea on my bedside table. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of my expression. I always was rubbish at dissembling.

‘Callie, what is it?’ he asked.

I sighed. ‘Is it true what was said? Were you the one behind Dan’s whole organization? Were you the head of the Outfit?’

Tobey’s expression tightened. Silence reigned between us. Just when I was about to give up on ever receiving an answer, Tobey spoke. ‘Do you want to know why I entered politics in the first place, Callie? To do some good. It was as simple and as complex as that. I know it sounds ridiculous in these cynical, jaded times, but it’s the truth.’

‘So that’s a yes then?’

‘That’s a yes,’ Tobey admitted. ‘I was behind it, but not any more.’

‘So who runs it now?’