Alice’s eyes flicked to the left and Rosa followed her eyeline. Only then did she become aware of the television, and she stared in total disbelief at an image of herself on the screen.

The news anchor’s voice struck her like a knife through the heart.

‘This is the woman police believe is the assassin. She was caught on a security camera at the hotel in South London where she’s been staying since she arrived from Mexico on Tuesday. Police found weapons and a motorbike in a garage nearby to which it’s known she had a key. The woman, named as Maria Rodriquez, is wanted in connection with five murders, the latest of which was committed last night.’

A silent wail of desperation rose in Rosa’s throat, and a cold chill slid over her flesh.

She turned slowly to look at Alice, and when their eyes met she knew that her dream of a new beginning had been shattered.

‘You didn’t leave your purse in the hotel, did you?’ Alice said.

Rosa couldn’t speak so Alice carried on.

‘You used that as an excuse to slip away from me and murder that officer in the patrol car near the pub.’

Rosa’s mind was thumping out of control. She screwed up her eyes, trying to stop the tears squeezing out.

‘I can’t believe I fell in love with you,’ Alice said, her voice breaking. ‘You’re a monster. You kill people for money.’

‘But I love you, Alice,’ Rosa said. ‘You must believe that.’

‘I don’t care. You’re not who I thought you were. And I’m scared of you.’

‘But there’s no need to be. I would never hurt you, Alice. Ever. You mean so much to me. We can still …’

Alice shook her head and held up her phone for Rosa to see.

‘I just called the police,’ she said. ‘They’ll be here any minute. I was about to leave the apartment when you came into the kitchen.’

Alice’s words gave way to uncontrollable sobs. Her face crumbled and she dropped her phone on the floor.

Rosa rushed across the kitchen to comfort her, but Alice backed away, clearly terrified.

‘Please don’t touch me,’ she wailed. ‘I beg you. Please.’

Rosa stopped and burst into tears herself, her mind and body racked by a crushing despair.

But at the same time the survival instinct kicked in and a voice deep inside told her to grieve later for what she’d lost. Right now she had to save herself and that meant fleeing the apartment before the police arrived.

‘Please forgive me,’ was all she said to Alice as she turned and ran back into the bedroom where she collected her things.

She picked up her bag, slipped on her coat, and rushed out of the apartment without saying another word.