The bus slows and Megan realises it’s her stop. ‘Oh excuse me,’ she says, pushing past the man next to her and hurrying down the stairs. She makes a mental note to shop in the sales at lunchtime for brand new Spanx.

The morning is cold outside and her chest wheezes as she breathes in the dirty London air. As she heads to the café, she realises that Max used her real name. Odd. He has always called her Cassie, or Hotchkiss, if he was being playful. She can’t recall ever telling him her real name. Perhaps she did one night when she was a little tiddly after one too many Proseccos.

She shrugs and smiles to herself. What does it matter? Tomorrow her dreams will take on a new reality.

Chapter 9

9

AS ARCHER AND QUINN LEAVE the Coroner’s Court a call comes through from PC Sabal Parapurath, the police guard at St George’s Hospital. Josef Olinski has gone into cardiac arrest. Archer tells him they are on their way.

Quinn navigates the busy Central London traffic and Archer feels her stomach knotting at the thought that Josef Olinski might not pull through. She hopes he does, for his family’s sake, and also because he is their only surviving witness.

The same Spanish nurse from yesterday is on reception talking with the uniformed PC, a tired-looking Indian man in his thirties. He sees Archer and Quinn approach and his expression becomes grave.

Archer’s heart sinks.

‘I am sorry but he didn’t make it,’ says the nurse.

‘Was he conscious at any time?’ asks Archer.

‘I’m afraid not.’

‘Apart from his burns did he have any other wounds?’

‘We found two bullet wounds. One in his back, the other in his hip.’

‘Anything else?’

The nurse shakes her head.

‘Thank you,’ says Archer. She turns to the police officer. ‘I don’t suppose you saw anything suspicious last night, Constable?’

‘Nothing, ma’am.’

‘You’d better get yourself home and to bed, Sabal,’ says Quinn.

‘Thank you, sir,’ he replies.

*

Archer sits in the passenger seat of the car deep in thought as Quinn makes a call updating DCI Pierce with the news about Olinski. He finishes the call and she can feel him looking at her.

‘Pierce says we’re not to return to the office until we have something worthwhile to follow up on.’

Archer frowns. ‘Did she say that?’

Quinn smiles. ‘Not really.’

Archer snorts. ‘It wouldn’t surprise me if she did.’

‘So what are your thoughts so far?’

Archer takes a moment to respond. ‘I’m thinking about the hairs Doctor Kapur found on the bodies.’

‘It’s weird, isn’t it? It makes me think of a fight between the three victims and the killer that involved a lot of scratching and biting.’

‘Me too . . . but maybe that’s what he wants us to think.’