The priest made the sign of the cross and blessed the mourners, after which the girls lined up and kissed Ross gently on both cheeks, leaving him in no doubt about the affection they shared with him for the only woman he’d ever loved.

William was among the last to pay his respects and found it difficult to express his true feelings. The hardened, cynical policeman broke down when William put his arms around him and simply said, ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘You won’t be seeing me for a few days,’ said Ross. ‘I have some scores to settle. I’ll be back once I’ve dealt with them.’

William thought about those words in the taxi back to the station, on the train to the airport and during the flight to Heathrow. He feared that Ross would be going back undercover and wouldn’t be sharing the details with him, or the commander.

• • •

Ross had intended to take the first available flight back to London, as he didn’t have a moment to spare before he carried out the first part of his plan. He would have done so, had he not been stopped by the elderly gentleman who’d delivered the eulogy, not a word of which he’d understood.

‘Excuse me, Mr Hogan. My name is Pierre Monderan,’ the old man said, with only the suggestion of an accent. ‘I was your late wife’s financial adviser.’ He handed Ross an embossed card. ‘Perhaps we could sit down, as what I have to tell you might take a few moments.’

‘I wish I’d been able to follow your kind words about Jo,’ said Ross, as he took a seat on the bench next to Monsieur Monderan. ‘They were so clearly appreciated by her friends.’

‘It’s kind of you to say so,’ said Monderan, taking an envelope out of his overcoat pocket and handing it to Ross. ‘I’ve translated my eulogy. I admired your wife greatly, and thought you might like to read it at your convenience. Your wife’s untimely death has left me with one last duty to carry out. For some time, I took care of Josephine’s personal finances, as I do for all the other girls in the syndicate.’

‘The syndicate?’

‘The joint holdings of their company were registered under the name of The Vestal Virgins. Twelve of them in all, each of whom invested ten thousand francs a month in a joint enterprise, which I administered on their behalf. Quite successfully, I think you will find. The object was that when the time came for them to retire, they would have sufficient financial reserves not to have to be concerned about their future. Sadly, in Josephine’s case, she will not benefit from what I believe you would call her nest egg. As her next of kin, that now passes to you.’

He took a second slim white envelope from an inside pocket and handed it to Ross.

‘But what about her family, or close friends? Shouldn’t they take precedence over me?’