‘It’s an unregistered phone and you can use it to contact me and Danny,’ he said. ‘Our numbers have been programmed in and we have your number. The envelope contains the list of targets. Names, addresses and contact details of the detectives and their loved ones. There’s also a link to a website on which we’ve uploaded photographs of all the officers and many of the family members.’

‘Where did the information come from?’ Rosa asked.

‘There’s someone on the task force who’s working for us.’

Rosa picked up the envelope, folded it and slipped it into the inside pocket of her jacket along with the phone.

‘The stuff you requested is in the lock-up garage at the rear of these premises,’ he said. ‘It’s in a secure position and you’ll be given a key to access it when you need to. When you’ve finished your drink we’ll show it to you. Now have you got any questions?’

She drank some of her juice, then wet her upper lip with her tongue.

‘I’ve got two questions,’ she said. ‘I’d like to know how long you expect me to stay and how many people you want me to kill.’

Slack leaned towards her. ‘Under the deal with your boss I have you for two weeks. I’d like you to carry out the hits at a rate of one a day, although I do appreciate that it might not be possible. And, if I’m not otherwise disposed, I might well ask Cruz to extend the contract. It all depends how much fun I’m having.’

The garage behind the pub was set back from the road. Danny unlocked it and raised the door, and Slack and Rosa followed him inside.

In front of them was a motorbike with leathers and a helmet on the seat. Saddlebags were attached either side of the seat.

‘We were told only that you wanted two wheels,’ Danny said. ‘Is this thing OK?’

She looked it over and nodded. ‘It looks perfectly fine.’

‘Good. There’s a bunch of fake stick-on number plates in the left-side saddlebag. Change them as often as you need to avoid street traffic cameras.’

On the table to the right of it there was an iPad, a takedown sniper rifle in an open briefcase, a pistol with silencer attached, a large knife, a garrotte with plastic handles, and five mobile phones.

‘These are all burner phones so you can dump them after you use them,’ Slack said. ‘It means you don’t have to use the phone I’ve already given you. The iPad has been set up so you’re ready to go online.’

Rosa stepped forward and ran her hands over the weapons.

‘You’ve been very thorough,’ she said.

‘That’s because like you we’re pros,’ Slack told her.