My intention was to ring the doorbell and step out of sight until he answered it. And then I’d attack him with the Taser, delivering fifty thousand volts to his body and incapacitating him for up to five seconds. Enough time to put the cuffs on his wrists.

I would then ascertain whether or not he was alone. If he wasn’t, I’d scarper. But if he was I’d do all that I could to get him to reveal the whereabouts of the assassin.

I turned my phone onto silent and wrapped the scarf around my face, covering my nose and mouth. Then I lifted up my jacket hood and pulled it tight so that only my eyes were visible.

In the rear-view mirror I looked like someone the police would stop and search without a moment’s hesitation.

It was a quiet residential street and there was no one about. They were all inside their homes having dinner, watching television and doing whatever else they did behind their closed doors.

I told myself again that I was doing the right thing. I was doing what had to be done. If I didn’t do it the carnage would continue. And those responsible for my miscarriage could go unpunished.

I removed the key from the ignition and took a deep breath. Stay calm, I told myself. And stay focused.

My heart thumped against my ribcage as I started to get out of the car.

But then I stopped suddenly because I saw Carver’s front door open and light from inside spill onto the driveway.

He closed the door behind him and I thought he would climb into the BMW. But he didn’t. Instead he walked past it onto the pavement.

And then he started to cross the road in my direction.

63

Rosa

Rosa’s patience was rewarded when they left the hotel bar. They were on their way to a well-known tourist attraction that Alice wanted her to see.

‘It’s a full-scale replica of Sir Francis Drake’s sixteenth-century sailing galleon,’ she said excitedly. ‘And right next to it there’s a really cute pub that does smashing cocktails.’

But just before they reached their destination Rosa spotted the police patrol car. It was parked at the kerb in a quiet, unlit street next to an apartment block overlooking the Thames.

This is it, she told herself. The opportunity I’ve been waiting for.

‘Oh my God,’ she yelped suddenly as she made a big thing of delving into her bag. ‘My purse isn’t here. I must have left it on the seat back at the hotel.’

‘Don’t worry,’ Alice said. ‘We can go back and get it.’

Rosa shook her head. ‘There’s no need for you to come. I’ll dash back while you go over there to the pub and get the drinks in.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course. It’ll only take me a couple of minutes.’