He stood for everything she disagreed with. The bed she was lying in was paid for through one or other of his borderline businesses, and he had taken her to an illegal boxing match. Yet one look at his handsome face and she could forgive him anything.

Anything? she asked herself again, and couldn’t answer.

Not honestly anyway.

She snuggled down deeper into his arms. She felt his flaccid penis against her leg, moist and soft, and felt the thrill of him again. He woke momentarily and drew her towards him as if surprised to find her there. She kissed him on the mouth hungrily, trying desperately to empty her mind. He rubbed her breasts roughly and she responded by kissing him harder.

‘Kate?’

‘What?’

‘You can deny this if you want, but I think that big Rasta turned you on.’

‘Oh, you!’

He grabbed hold of her and kissed her again, slipping on top of her as if they were made to fit. She was glad of it.

Neither had mentioned the murders or the fight. It was as if they had an unspoken agreement to drop the subject. But even in the throes of orgasm, it was in the back of both their minds.

Eventually, it would all come up again. Their differences, their divided opinions on right and wrong, these would bring them into conflict.

And it would bring them grief.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Duane Portillo watched number 22620 Apopka Vineland Road. He sat opposite the house eating a sandwich and waiting for his quarry to show himself. He had been furnished with a description that fitted the man he had seen earlier perfectly. All he needed to establish now was that the guy was English. He bit into his sandwich, savouring the taste of moist chicken and crisp salad. He had been there over two hours and the two Dobermans had been watching him from the gates with beady eyes.

Duane approved of the dogs. If he had a house like that he would have had two similar dogs. He knew exactly what could happen to you if someone decided to rob you. He knew because he had been a robber himself for a while. Now he enjoyed the good life. He just let loose a few bits of lead and was paid a great deal of money. It was an arrangement that suited him. He would give this guy another thirty-six hours before he wasted him, Mr O’Grady’s orders.

Duane guessed in his shrewd way that he was waiting for the money to arrive before committing himself. Mr O’Grady was one clever guy. Duane blessed the day he had met up with him.