He knew he should be wary. Not for the reasons Darko was mistrustful, but because he understood the mechanics of emotional rebound. It would be depressingly predictable to fall for the first interesting woman he met as a sort of bandage for the heart. But he believed that whenever, wherever, however he had encountered Caroline Jackson, he would have been attracted to her. Had Katerina still been alive, he would have acknowledged it to himself but not acted upon it. With Katerina dead, there was no reason not to allow himself to care. To attempt to ignore how he had started to feel was doubtless the safest course of action. But a man who thrived on risk as he did could no more adopt a safety-first policy with women than he could turn his back on the edgy and lucrative world that gave him so delightful a life.

Tadeusz pushed open the fire door and emerged in the vestibule that led to his apartment. He wasn’t alone. Darko Krasic sat on the deep window sill, short legs stretched out in front of him, cigar smoke hazing the air. Tadeusz didn’t break stride, heading straight for his front door. ‘I didn’t expect to see you here,’ he said, key in the lock.

‘I’ve got something that won’t keep,’ Krasic said, following his boss indoors. Tadeusz took off his overcoat and hung it in a cloakroom in the hallway. Krasic carried on into the sitting room and threw his leather jacket over the back of the sofa. ‘I could use a drink,’ he called.

‘Help yourself, you know where it’s kept.’

Krasic poured himself a slug of Jack Daniels and swallowed most of it at a single gulp. He topped up the glass and settled into a modernist chair that was far more comfortable than it looked. He crushed out his cigar in the deep crystal ashtray on the end table, then drummed his fingers on his knee.

Tadeusz walked in, a visible bounce in his step. ‘It must be a desperate piece of news that has you camping out on my doorstep, Darko.’ He looked as if there was nothing in the world that could touch him as he threw himself down on the sofa and stretched out full length, feet crossed elegantly at the ankles.

‘I had a meeting with Hauser this afternoon.’

Tadeusz groaned and rolled his eyes back. ‘Rather you than me. So what did Happy Hauser have to say for himself? No, wait. Let me guess. He thought he’d bring you the worrying news that Arjouni is moving in on Kamal’s business?’ He grinned.

Krasic couldn’t help returning the smile. Say what you liked about Tadzio, he could generally size people up accurately. Well, men, anyway. ‘He did. But that was dessert. The main course was a lot more interesting.’