The man was watching the exit gate, cat at a mouse hole.

‘He doesn’t know what you look like,’ said Ed. ‘He didn’t react when you walked out.’

‘You grabbed me pretty fast.’

‘Even so. He missed you. He was expecting you to walk up to him.’

They watched him for a few more minutes. Briefly, keeping her voice steady, she told him about Erica Whiddon.

‘You have to be careful,’ Ed breathed out. ‘Promise me.’

Their eyes met. Around them, the crowd ebbed and flowed. She could sense him standing very close, his body tense.

You promised.

‘I need to get to the office,’ Casey said briskly. ‘I need to keep working, and find out who is behind all this.’

‘It would be tricky to follow him from here anyway,’ said Ed, equally efficient. ‘He’ll probably have a car.’

For all the filmic car chases, it was hard tracking a car, especially without being spotted, especially one driven by someone who checked, always watchful.

‘He could be here for hours,’ said Casey, ‘before giving up. There are flights from Nice all day.’

‘Call Dash,’ said Ed. ‘Tell him to send two reporters to keep an eye on him, and try to work out where he goes.’

‘All right,’ said Casey. ‘All right.’

Ed and Casey arrived in the office at the same time as Miranda.

‘Shit,’ Miranda had said, when Casey rang from Ed’s car. ‘And we have no idea how many other people may be on our case too. Shit.’

Staring out of the car window, Casey told Miranda about the murder of Erica Whiddon.

‘They probably,’ Miranda said flatly, ‘have similar plans for you.’

‘Drive straight into the underground car park,’ Dash messaged Casey two minutes later. ‘I’ll tell them to have it open as you arrive.’

Dash was waiting for her as she walked into the office, cutting her off at the doorway to the investigations room.

‘Are you OK?’ His eyes were on Casey’s.

‘I’m fine.’ She pushed away his concerns.

‘We need to publish now,’ said Dash. ‘As long as we don’t publish, they’ll think the story can be stopped by offing you.’

‘I know,’ Casey said. ‘But I need more time, Dash. We’re not there yet. We haven’t—’

‘We’re close enough,’ said Dash. ‘And I can’t take the risk . . .’

‘Give me one more day,’ said Casey.

‘You’ve already had that.’

‘I can’t . . . not yet.’

He glowered at her. ‘You can have a few more hours,’ he said reluctantly. ‘Then that’s it. And I’m getting more security into the building. Operate out of that central conference room. Janet can order in some sandwiches. You stay here.’