Michael, my Cross close-protection officer, was too much of a professional to punch Jon’s lights out. He did, however, firmly body-push him to one side until Jon was no longer in front of the lens. ‘Do you know this man, sir?’

Keeping my expression neutral, I replied, ‘My apologies, Michael. What with one thing and another, I forgot to inform you that he was coming. Please send him up.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Michael’s image disappeared off my phone. I opened my door, noting Deli, another of my close-protection officers, seated beside the lift. Her discreet earpiece meant that she’d heard every word of the conversation I’d just had with Michael. I nodded in her direction. She nodded back.

A minute later, Jon was at my front door, having taken the lift up to the apartment. We eyed each other without saying a word. His greying-brown hair was ruffled and untidy, and his glasses were cloudy and in need of a good clean. I stepped aside to allow him to walk past. Jon took a quick glance around, then made himself comfortable on my sofa, legs outstretched, shoes up on my cushions.

‘Mine’s a Scotch and ice – just one cube – since you’re asking.’

I got him his drink, not bothering to comment on the hour. It was still early in the morning, for God’s sake. Handing it to him, I sat down on the sofa opposite to the one he had claimed and waited. The look Jon openly cast me was speculative, to say the least.

‘What’s our first move?’ Jon asked at last.

‘I don’t know what you mean or why you’re here,’ I replied carefully.

‘Bullshit! Callie has filled me in and asked me to help you, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m sure you have your own people, but you don’t strike me as the sort of man to put all his eggs in one basket, or to sit back and wait for things to happen, so I’ll ask again: what’s our first move?’

Silence. I was impressed.

‘Shane Stoats. He’s Eva’s new right-hand man so either he knows where Liberty is or he knows how to find out,’ I admitted at last.

‘You know about Shane Stoats?’ Jon’s eyes narrowed. ‘Eva Foxton is very careful to keep him out of the public eye. He’s her secret weapon.’

‘That’s the name I was given,’ I said.

Jon raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth quirking at the same time. ‘That makes you better informed than most cops in the Serious Crime Squad. Very few people even know his name, never mind that he’s now Eva’s second in command.’

‘You know,’ I pointed out. This guy knew a lot.

‘It’s part of my job to know,’ said Jon. ‘What d’you think I do all day?’