‘Everything you say is true,’ Tadzio admitted. ‘But what you make of it is equally open to another interpretation. As you suggested when this first came up, the biker could have been a British cop on holiday and he had to disappear because he wasn’t supposed to have his bike in Berlin. Colin’s killer is keeping his head down because Colin has business associates who would want to avenge his death and prove they weren’t to be crossed. People like Caroline, for example. Unless of course it was Caroline who had Colin killed to eliminate sloppy competition. I think she could be a dangerous woman, but not for the same reasons you do, Darko. I think she’s one of us. She acts like a successful criminal. She looks at the world like a successful criminal. And women who make it in our business have to be twice as ruthless as the men.’

He stood up and crossed to the drinks cupboard, where he poured himself a small glass of apple schnapps. ‘Darko, I know you think she’s not to be trusted, but that’s only because of the accident of her resemblance to Katerina. If she looked like the back end of a bus, you’d be a lot less suspicious.’

‘Well, that goes without saying. But don’t you think the way she looks is reasonable grounds for suspicion?’ Krasic sounded incredulous.

‘No. I think it’s one of the horrible tricks fate plays on us. I would trust her more easily if she looked differently, I think,’ he said, knowing in his heart it wasn’t true, but refusing to give Krasic any kind of leverage. Then he had a moment’s inspiration, based on years of experience. ‘But, Darko, you’re the one who’s been watching her.’

Krasic looked startled. ‘How did you know? Has she noticed? Did she say something?’

Tadeusz laughed out loud. ‘No, she hasn’t said a thing. I guessed. So, has she done anything suspicious?’

Krasic gave him a sheepish glance. ‘Some shopping. And she goes to that ritzy women’s health club on Giesebrechtstrasse every day.’

‘Oh, that’s really something to worry about, a woman who wants to keep in shape. So, she’s not been hanging out in cop bars or deliberately giving your man the slip?’

Krasic shook his head. ‘Nothing like that. But then, if she was dodgy, she’d expect us to be watching her.’

‘Now you’re being too devious.’ Tadeusz crossed the room and clapped Krasic on the shoulder. ‘You’re a good friend, Darko. But I think this time you’re letting your concern for me run away with your imagination. I really don’t believe Caroline is part of some Machiavellian plot against me involving motorbikes and dead gangsters.’

‘That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop keeping an eye on her,’ the Serb said stubbornly.