Rosa saw that she was staring at the wall-mounted TV that she’d just switched on using a remote control. A news anchor was telling viewers that a police officer had been murdered the previous evening on his own doorstep.

‘Who the hell would do such a thing?’ Alice said. ‘It’s so horrible.’

Rosa wondered how Alice would react if she knew that the woman who had just licked her vagina was the person responsible. The thought made her want to smile, but she decided it wouldn’t be appropriate.

‘This sort of thing happens all too frequently in Mexico,’ Rosa said. ‘There are murders every day. The drug cartels do terrible things. They’re a law unto themselves. Nobody is safe. Especially the police.’

‘I’ve heard about that,’ Alice said. ‘And I saw a documentary that claimed your country is, like, one of the most violent places on earth.’

‘It’s true,’ Rosa said, and she had to resist the temptation to reveal what had happened to her own parents. Alice didn’t need to know. Nobody did. It was her cross to bear.

A photo appeared on the screen. The victim. Detective Inspector Dave Prentiss. Shot dead execution-style at his home in Battersea, according to the anchor. The police were appealing for witnesses. And there was concern that other officers and their families had been threatened.

There was another TV in the kitchen, and Alice turned it on as she made coffee and toast.

‘Will I see you again?’ she asked Rosa. ‘I’d really like to.’

‘Well, I’m free tonight if you are,’ Rosa said.

Alice grinned. ‘Of course I am. We can go out or you can come straight here.’

‘Why don’t we meet at the club again? I really enjoyed dancing with you.’

Alice giggled like a child. ‘That’s a great idea.’

Rosa wrote down Alice’s mobile number and gave the other woman hers.

Then their attention was drawn back to the TV. Coverage of a press conference. All about the murder of detective Prentiss and the threats against his colleagues on the organised crime task force.

A man identified on screen as Metropolitan Police Commissioner John Saunders was saying, ‘Our thoughts are with Detective Inspector Prentiss’s wife and newborn baby. This is a shocking crime and I can assure you it will not go unpunished.’

Rosa held back another smile. That’s where you’re wrong, Mr Commissioner. You have no idea who killed him. Not a clue. You’ll be looking in all the wrong places. Chasing the wrong people. Working yourselves into a frenzy because you’ll be wondering who will be the next victim. And not even Roy Slack knows that. Only I do, which is why this is going to be such an easy assignment. I have choices. Options. If one plan falls apart I just have to move on to the next.