Danny could feel tension in the whole of his upper body. He’d been sitting bolt upright, his whole body rigid. He sat back, pulling his shoulders down as he did to try and breath deeper.

‘Money … This woman, she does this for money,’ Danny muttered.

‘It still surprises me what people will do for financial gain.’

‘Not you then?’ Danny said. His side flared like his muscles had fused as he turned to the man, who was still looking out to sea.

‘Me?’

‘You make your money out of finding people for the rich, people who want them taken out, like this woman. How come you don’t do a more complete service? Surely that would improve your take?’

‘You mean pulling the trigger myself?’ The man chuckled again. ‘I’ve certainly been asked enough.’

‘And then there would be no need for people like me. What was it you called me? A variable, right?’

The man held his smile. ‘It would certainly be a lot easier. But that would make me a killer for money, no better than the people I find. The only right way to take another life is for justice and that can’t be found with a cold death at the hands of a stranger. Justice can only be delivered by the wronged, by the victim. By the people and the families torn apart.’

‘Have you ever killed anyone? For any reason?’

‘No.’ He stood up now, tugging at his jacket to straighten it, shifting his trousers so they fell over the same smart shoes. He started to walk away but cast a last glance towards Danny. ‘I’m not sure I have it in me.’

Chapter 15

Danny left the car’s radio off to drive away from Dover in silence. He had been listening to the local station for the short journey to the seafront in the hope that he could call the man’s bluff, that there would be no mention of a ‘body found’ or of a ‘murder investigation’. But both phrases had been mentioned numerous times by DJs and newsreaders who could barely believe something so newsworthy had happened in their sleepy town. A headless corpse! The newsreader had almost sung the words, her excitement increasing with every word until she had handed back to an equally thrilled DJ. He’d even referenced the story as he had set up the next song: ‘The next track I’m going to play you was already in the can so please don’t think it’s a reference to that horrific story from St Margaret’s beach! This is The Verve and “Lucky Man” …’