After a heavy knock, Eva entered the study, pushing the door shut behind her. We regarded each other for a few moments before she sat down in the chair closest to my desk. Eva wore black floaty trousers over stiletto-heeled black boots and a silver top to match her silver, swept-back hair. The last time I saw her, which had been a couple of days ago, her hair was past her shoulders. Now it was cut in a more androgynous style, longer on top and at the front than at the back and sides, with a semi-fringe over half her forehead. It suited her. Her lipstick was her usual purple, which strangely suited her too. She told me once that she always wore that colour because it had been her daughter Ava’s favourite as a child. After her daughter died, Eva never wore any other colour. She looked exactly what she was: a formidable woman.

‘You’ve invited an interesting range of guests tonight,’ said Eva dryly.

‘It’s been said. I had my reasons.’

‘Care to share them?’

‘Not right now, no,’ I replied. ‘I’ve also had an interesting conversation with Dowd.’

‘Oh?’

‘Yes. All about the merger you’ve been trying to set up between his organization and mine.’

‘Dan, let me explain—’

‘How dare you?’ Though my voice was calm, Eva knew better than to think I wasn’t incensed. After all, she’d known me long enough. She sat up straighter, her whole stance now more wary.

‘Calm down,’ she had the gall to say. ‘I was acting in our best interests—’

‘How. Dare. You?’

‘Dan, you’re too angry to see it right now, but I was doing you a favour. If we’re not careful, Dowd will run all the major Prop routes up and down the country, not to mention people trafficking. We’re falling into irrelevancy, but you’re too busy playing kingmaker to Tobey bloody Durbridge to see that.’

That was a slap in the face and no mistake. This woman had once saved my life. She was more of a mother to me than my real mother had ever been. Didn’t she realize what she meant to me? Maybe she did. Maybe that’s why she now thought she owned me. Big mistake.

‘Eva, what makes you think I’m interested in Prop routes or people smuggling? If I were interested in those activities, I’d be all over them.’

‘Dan, don’t you get it? Owen Dowd and his crew are laughing at you. You’re passing up a chance to make vast amounts of easy money. Prop production has put us where we should be, on top – and that’s thanks to me. There’s nothing and no one able to stop us or even touch us now.’

‘Eva, your daughter died of a drugs overdose. You’re the last person to push for more Prop on the streets.’