Superintendent Harsent, when the news reached her, would know immediately that I was the killer. It didn’t matter what steps I took to eradicate the evidence – she would know. She and Hari had separated some time earlier when he began undercover work, but they never completed a divorce. She could destroy me. She was the main weakness in my plan, but I pinned my hopes on the fact that she was as guilty as me. If she used her insider knowledge to incriminate me she would lose as much as I would.

I could depend on that. I had to depend on that.

The small square outside Hari’s bar was closed to traffic, and a crowd of young people were enjoying the hot night while the music spilled out. Many were standing, but others were sitting on the patch of grass in the centre of the square. I saw one of the vendors waiting beside his brazier, and in spite of the bloody crime I had just committed the smell of the spicy food was almost irresistible.

I hurried from the square and followed my planned route through side streets and alleys, heading towards my hotel and the harbour beyond. Away from the area of Hari’s bar the streets were more crowded. Traffic drove by slowly, weaving between people sauntering in the roadways. The vehicles made a racket and left a stink of exhaust fumes.

I felt the weight of the gun and the empty bullet cases in my pants pocket, knocking against my thigh with every step, a steadily beating reminder of the horror of what I had done. I tried to control the fear that was in me. I was certain that by now someone would have found Hari’s body. The police would be called and they would immediately start searching for whoever had killed him. I was listening for the sound of sirens as I went swiftly along, but there was too much loud music being played everywhere. I felt prominent because I was a stranger in the town, and because most of the people who were out in the streets that night looked decades younger than me.

I struggled to be calm. I told myself, saying the words under my breath, that all would be well when I had dealt with the gun.