But it wasn’t a huge deal. He was only surprised it had taken them so long to find it out.

No doubt it would strengthen their conviction that he was behind the threats and killings, and that he’d had a hand in the disappearance of firearms officer Hugh Wallis.

But so what? Without any evidence they were fucked. The Met, his long-time nemesis, was virtually paralysed by despair and frustration. Every copper across every rank would be feeling the pain. And that was exactly the position he’d hoped they’d be in when he’d put his plan together. He’d wanted to hurt them, punish them, deliver a blow that would enable him to claim when the end came that he’d beaten the bastards.

After all, it was all he had to live for now. In the coming weeks and months the cancer would take from him everything that he still found pleasurable. He’d have to stop drinking Scotch and having sex. He’d find it harder to keep food down and just leaving the apartment was going to become an ordeal.

Was it any wonder then that he felt so bitter? And not just with the Old Bill. He’d been dealt a shitty hand. He was still only fifty-seven, for fuck’s sake. Until fairly recently he’d been enjoying the trappings of his success. All-night sessions at his clubs, drug-fuelled orgies in fancy hotel suites, long days at the races, blowout meals at London’s most expensive restaurants.

Now he had neither the stamina nor the inclination to even try to have fun.

So that was why this meant so much to him. And why he was loving every minute of it.

Another appearance on the TV by the Met’s top dog brought a smile to his face. Commissioner John Saunders was trying to convince the public that his band of Keystone Cops hadn’t lost control of the situation.

Addressing reporters outside Scotland Yard, he said, ‘We believe that the woman who’s committing these murders is being paid to do so by someone else. It’s part of a heinous plot to destabilise law enforcement in the capital. But it won’t work. Every one of my officers and support staff will stand firm, and we will reject all demands that come from the perpetrators. Meanwhile, I’m confident that we’ll soon be closing in on this woman and those who are involved with her.’

They ran the CCTV footage again that showed Rosa on the motorbike. But at no time was her face visible.

There was no mention of the latest text message that had been sent to the detectives. Maybe that was because the Commissioner hadn’t seen it yet. Or perhaps they were intending to keep quiet about it. The thought made him chuckle.