Her good mood evaporating, Tanith fought through the pain in her head and pushed herself up, swayed a little, and went straight for the Ripper. She yanked him away from Jack who went to his knees, gasping for air. The Ripper’s elbow collided with the side of Tanith’s face. He followed with a punch that she dodged, but her bare feet slipped on the wet surface and she went down. She crossed her arms, blocking his kick, catching the glint of the sickle blade a moment before it slashed at her.

She threw herself back, head over heels, coming up to a crouch in time to see the sickle arcing in to take her head. She was up, both hands blocking the sickle hand, her fingers wrapping round his wrist, and she was jumping, her strong legs folding beneath her as she used his wrist as a fulcrum on which her whole body spun. Her shins smashed into his jaw. He bent over backwards, all strength leaving him even as she was landing. Her feet touched down, but she slipped again and fell into Sanguine’s arms.

“Don’t worry,” he said, “I’m here to save you.”

“I’m so lucky I have you,” she replied, disentangling herself from his hands. “Jack, you OK?”

Jack spat over the side of the boat. “Nearly choked the life out of me, the git. And me with so much to live for.” He stood up, and looked around. “Where’s Sabine?”

Sabine pulled herself out of the water behind him, and glared up as she hung there. “You spat on me.”

“Oh,” Jack said. “Sorry.” He held out a hand. Sabine hesitated, regarding the gnarled fingers and long nails warily, and then allowed him to help her up.

“What are we going to do with him?” she asked, looking at the unconscious Ripper. “If we let him go, he’ll tell Starke we stole the dagger, but if we keep him prisoner, we’ll have to take him everywhere with us.”

Tanith pretended to mull it over. “That’s a good question, Sabine. Whatever shall we do with this most unexpected of guests? Billy-Ray, do you have any ideas?”

“I may have one,” Sanguine said, taking out his straight razor and cutting the Ripper’s throat.

Sabine stumbled back. “What are you doing?” she cried. “You can’t just murder people! What the hell are you doing?”

“Murdering people,” Sanguine answered.

Sabine took two steps and shoved Sanguine. “He was unconscious! He was unconscious and defenceless and you murdered him!”

Sanguine grinned as Sabine shoved him again.

“Sabine,” Tanith said, “Sanguine did what had to be done. We can’t leave witnesses. You said it yourself − we couldn’t release him or take him with us.”

“I’m out,” Sabine said. “I didn’t agree to this. I steal things and I cheat people, but I don’t kill anyone.”