I took a determined breath to stiffen my resolve. Told myself that I had no choice now but to follow Tony Marsden’s lead and go it alone. Desperate times called for desperate measures. And it wasn’t just a knee-jerk reaction to what Aidan had said. From where I stood we weren’t going to achieve anything by doing things by the book. We’d face restrictions. Solicitors. The law would work against us and more of my fellow officers would be murdered.

I thought about involving someone else but decided against it. I didn’t want to place them in a difficult position or have them insist I tell Drummond.

I had to do this by myself and if it didn’t pan out I’d be the only one in trouble.

Suddenly my dad, my hero, was inside me head, barking orders and telling me to go for it and to hell with the consequences.

And then, as if I needed further incentive, I saw Aidan in my mind’s eye lying on our kitchen floor. Followed by the blood-drenched bodies of Dave Prentiss and Marion Nash. And I thought about the baby who had been taken away from me. The most innocent of innocent victims.

I asked myself if it was right that the people responsible might escape justice. The answer, of course, was an emphatic no. I therefore decided that I had to go with my gut.

Returning to my desk, I printed off a few pages from Danny Carver’s file.

Including his address.

60

Rosa

She was having the time of her life and she didn’t want the day to end.

They were now passing the Houses of Parliament on their way to the famous riverside area known as the South Bank.

‘You’ll love it there,’ Alice said. ‘If the queues aren’t too long we can go up on the London Eye. It has terrific views over the city. Then we’ll get some cocktails at one of the swanky bars before going for dinner somewhere really nice.’

Alice was so excited she could barely contain herself, and Rosa loved her all the more for it. There was no longer any doubt in her mind that she wanted Alice to be a part of her future. A big part.

She couldn’t imagine going back to Mexico. To her soulless apartment and the life that she now realised was devoid of fun and purpose.

Before today she had never experienced the joy of sharing things. Or the thrill of knowing that someone enjoyed spending time with her. It had never occurred to her that she’d been lonely. Just alone. And until today that had been enough. But not anymore.

‘Ahead of us is Westminster Bridge,’ Alice said, pointing. ‘In a minute we’ll cross that to get to the South Bank. But first there’s another building I want to show you just to the left here along the embankment.’