Firstly there was the bronze medallion with the word ‘Hope’ written on it that they’d found in Iqbal’s mouth. It had no fingerprints on it. Just as the medallion they’d found attached to Stefan’s coat had had no fingerprints on it when they’d tested it.

But the medallions were clearly part of the same set. The bronze had burnished with age to the same patina, the leaves carved into the edges were similar, and the script used for the words ‘Faith’ and ‘Hope’ was identical.

Secondly, if the medallions suggested the two deaths were linked, the ballistics report removed all doubt. The bullet that killed Iqbal had been fired by the same gun that had been used to kill Stefan.

A Second World War German Luger pistol.

It made no sense to DS Malik. Why would someone want to kill an art dealer and then a taxi driver? And where could the killer have even got an antique German Luger from? It was as she asked herself this question that DS Malik once again noticed that there was a person involved in the case who might know the answer.

‘You want to know how to get hold of an antique pistol?’ Elliot Howard said once DS Malik had explained why she was phoning him. ‘What a peculiar question.’

‘Are they easy to get hold of?’

‘It depends. There’s certainly a trade in old weaponry, from halberds, maces and so on through to more recent memorabilia. But can I ask, do you mean a decommissioned pistol? One that’s had its firing mechanism removed? After all, it’s only legal to sell antique guns that have been decommissioned.’

DS Malik could hear an easeful glide in Elliot’s voice, and she found herself wondering if Judith had been right. Was he enjoying himself?

‘Do you sell such weapons?’ she asked.

‘We have a military memorabilia auction twice a year.’

‘And all of your weapons have been decommissioned.’

‘Of course. Or they wouldn’t be legal.’

‘Is it possible you’ve ever sold an antique pistol that hadn’t been decommissioned? By mistake?’

‘Impossible. We have a military expert who checks all the lots thoroughly before we put them up for auction. If we’re ever offered a working pistol, we refuse to have anything to do with it and report it to the police. But why are you asking me about decommissioned pistols?’

‘Because we’ve discovered evidence of one that hasn’t been decommissioned.’

‘Then I can tell you, it didn’t pass through my auction house.’

‘So where could it have come from?’