Petra nodded, feeling the woman’s pain.

‘They broke her, and over the years I watched her constant, vain battle to heal. She had the potential to inspire, to change lives, but they stole it. That night, they drained all the light from her, and she mourned my loss for all those years. But something magical happened when we were together again. On our own, we would have drifted away to oblivion, but clearly the combined energy of our loss and rage and our will to vengeance…’ Olivia stopped mid-sentence and shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I’m no metaphysician. I don’t understand the rules of death any more than the living understand the meaning of life. But here we are. Pretty, isn’t it?’

Petra glanced at Ellis to see if he was party to Olivia’s delusions – looking to him, of all people, for rational mediation – but he was studiously swilling his whisky and avoiding her eyes. ‘In other, fewer words, you’re admitting that you killed those people?’

Olivia nodded. ‘We got it done.’

‘Well, you got it done, love. I went along with it, I suppose.’ This was a woman’s voice over her shoulder. She turned to see Rashida Barnes stepping into the room, closing the door behind her as quietly as she’d opened it.

‘How can you say that so calmly?’ Petra’s eyes flicked between the three of them. Suddenly their numbers seemed daunting, dangerous. ‘If what you say is true, you seem to think there’s nothing wrong with being a serial killer.’ Petra felt herself blush; the words did sound ridiculous now they had been formed.

Olivia turned her hands out and shrugged. ‘In the greater scheme of things, there is nothing wrong with it. Many of our most lauded public figures are mass murderers. For less justification than ours, I might add. Rashida and I are justified, and – for obvious reasons – we have nothing to lose. You gain a certain perspective.’

‘Then why wouldn’t you just kill Worthing yourself? Why do you need Vincent?’

‘We thought we needed him, yes. But from the first time I saw you, I knew you would do even better. I can recognise what you are capable of.’

It was a moment before Petra could breathe. ‘What exactly do you think I’m capable of? I can understand Vincent might have reasons to hate Worthing – and I’m glad he’s showing that he won’t act on that hatred. He’s a good man.’

‘Good man?’ Olivia snapped. ‘He has the chance to avenge the murder of his daughter and he doesn’t want to take it. To me, that’s the definition of a coward.’