He told us the National Crime Agency was concentrating on foreign crime gangs who were operating in London – the Russian Mafia, the Mexican cartel that had links to Slack’s mob, and the Eastern European outfits.

‘Meanwhile we’ll continue to focus on the home-grown firms,’ he said. ‘Another list of names is about to be circulated so let’s get cracking on it.’

He went on to say that a new shift pattern was being drawn up so that we could take turns to catch up on lost sleep.

He then returned to the subject of protection and said he’d put in a request for armed officers to accompany detectives during the day.

‘Those of you who are authorised to carry weapons will hopefully be able to arm yourselves with a handgun,’ he said.

That included me. I had attended the firearms course as part of a ten-month secondment to the Met’s Specialist Protection Command. My job there was to be a close protection officer for visiting dignitaries and politicians. But I’d never felt comfortable in the role and had thankfully never had to pull the trigger on my Glock pistol.

So it actually came as a huge relief when they offered me a position with the task force and I was able to move straight over.

I was still pondering the unappealing idea of carrying a gun again when Drummond’s mobile rang and he stopped speaking to answer it. As he listened he gestured for the rest of us to be quiet by raising his hand.

And so we watched as his face ran through a gauntlet of emotions, from vague curiosity to shock to total disbelief. Then he turned his back on us to respond to whatever he’d been told.

It was obvious to us all by then that something had happened. Something that the boss hadn’t expected. He finally ended the call and turned to face us again, and a hard lump formed in my throat as he struggled to regain his composure. Before he spoke his eyes swept the room and for some reason settled on DCI Nash.

Then, in a voice that was strangely shaky, he said, ‘Can you come into my office for a moment, Nash?’ To the rest of us, he added, ‘Stay where you are. I need to brief you on a development.’

Graham Nash wore a deep frown as he stood up and followed the gaffer into his office, closing the door behind him. Seconds later a horrible cry came from inside the room and my heart leapt.

28

Rosa

She had four hours to kill before meeting up with Alice at the Vichy Lounge. Time then to make preparations for the next hit before getting ready.

She was really looking forward to her night out. The dancing. The sex. The uncomplicated intimacy. It was the perfect way to come down from what was in effect the ultimate high.