‘It’s up to you, little lion man. Save us. Please.’

The flickering stops and the room becomes dark once more.

Jordan blinks his eyes open to the darkness. His head feels woozy and his body shakes with cold and pain. He thinks he hears the rumbling of an engine which disappears as quickly as it arrived.

He calls for Ben, but his voice is like an old dog’s bark.

He listens, but Ben doesn’t respond. Instead he flinches at the sound of a door slamming closed upstairs.

Chapter 49

49

ARCHER IS DRIVING NORTH WITH Klara on speaker phone.

‘Where is it now, Klara?’

It has just stopped on Swains Lane in Highgate. Doesn’t seem to be moving.’

‘Could you connect to the public CCTV and see what you can find?’

‘I’ll get on it right away.’

‘It’s the killer, Klara. I’m sure of it.’

‘What about Merrick?’

‘He’s involved somehow but he’s not our man.’

‘An accomplice?’

‘Possibly. Please keep trying Quinn and tell him I’m on my way to Highgate. Let me know as soon as you can what you find on the CCTV.’

‘Roger that!’

Archer steps on the accelerator and takes every shortcut she knows through bus lanes and red lights. The traffic is frustratingly heavy but within five minutes she is on the A5200 on her way to Highgate.

The last time Archer was in Swains Lane was for a school trip to Highgate Cemetery. That seemed like a lifetime ago. Swains Lane divides the East Cemetery from the West Cemetery. It is a steep and narrow road with high walls on either side. She drives slowly up the lane, her eyes scanning for anything or anyone that might seem out of place.

Archer’s phone rings. It’s Klara.

She puts her on speaker.

‘What have you got?’ she asks, as she drives up the hill.

‘Nothing much on CCTV yet. But the car stopped about halfway up Swains Lane. It seemed to be inside a block of some sort.’

Archer slows. To her left she sees the front of a modern house. The top floor seems to be entirely made from glass and overlooks the west side of the cemetery. Victoria said Jamie lived near a cemetery. Is this his house?

‘Klara, I think this is Jamie’s house.’

Archer signals to the right and pulls over, half mounting the pavement.

‘I’m here now. I’m going in. Did you get hold of Quinn?’

‘He’s not picking up. I’ll try again. Might be best to wait for backup, Grace.’

‘Jamie’s in there. He could be in danger.’

‘OK. I’ll call Quinn again. Be careful.’

Archer gets out of the car. Swains Lane is peaceful with the occasional car rolling by. An ambitious cyclist in colourful lycra battles his way up the impossibly steep lane as Archer walks toward the house and rings the bell.