He could easily stop now and know that he had done what he’d set out to do. One call to the murderer from Mexico would put an end to it. But he’d been completely honest with her when he’d said he was having too much fun. He wanted to enjoy the last rollercoaster ride of his life for just a little longer. A few days maybe, or a week at the most. Then it’d be time to bow out.

He didn’t care that in the meantime his businesses would go on suffering, along with those of the other London firms. They were losing money big time as the Old Bill took out their anger and frustration on every villain in the capital.

Slack had already been contacted by several of the other bosses who had begged him to stop what he was doing. It was clear that none of them believed him when he’d said he had nothing to do with it.

He didn’t give a shit what they thought, though. They weren’t his friends and he didn’t owe them anything. It actually amused him to think that once Rosa started killing cops at random the pressure on the other outfits would probably increase tenfold.

He saw it as an inspired move on his part. Extending the bloodbath beyond the organised crime task force would generate even more panic and confusion.

On Sundays he always went to the restaurant below the office in Rotherhithe for a slap-up lunch. As far as he was concerned their roasts were the best in South London.

He arranged for Mike to pick him up at twelve o’clock. Then he had a shower and got dressed.

When he checked himself in the mirror he saw that his eyes were booze red and the pouches beneath them were darker than ever.

The hangover was all but gone, but the cancer was giving him some grief again. There was a gnawing ache in his stomach and lower back, and it felt like the blood was boiling in his veins.

He would try to ignore it as usual, but it was becoming increasingly more difficult even with the medication.

He called Danny to make sure he’d be joining him at the restaurant. Sunday was when he and his most loyal lieutenant got together to discuss any issues that had cropped up during the previous week. But today they’d be talking about things other than business.

‘The lads don’t know whether they’re coming or going,’ Danny said. ‘What happened to the Commissioner has freaked them out. They say everyone is pointing the finger at you, boss.’

‘So what have you told them?’

‘That it’s bollocks. I’ve said you wouldn’t be stupid enough to sanction such a high-profile hit that would cause enough heat to burn all our businesses to the ground.’