He gave Mum’s head a little shake and I watched her flinch as the serrated tips dug in a little more.

‘Now be a good girl and slowly remove your weapon.’

I couldn’t move straight away. Instead my eyes kept drawing to the necklace of beaded blood drops growing at Mum’s throat.

‘Come on, Sam, don’t waste my time. I know you’re armed. Be a good girl and hand over the gun.’

I carefully reached around with my left hand and pulled a pistol out of my trousers, holding it out to the side for Phil to see.

‘Now put it down on the table, and step away.’

I was buggered if I was going to leave him with a weapon to shoot me with, if he didn’t already have one of his own. As I leaned over to put it on the table, I slid my finger on to the button by the trigger guard and pressed.

The magazine fell to the tiled floor with a sharp clack that made everyone jump.

‘Humph,’ he snorted. ‘Clever girl. Now why don’t you take a seat down that end, there’s room at the table.’

‘No thank you, I’d rather stand.’

Phil’s eyebrows shot up, but then he laughed and said, ‘Suit yourself, you’ll get a better view from there, anyway.’ For someone who’d obviously been found out, he seemed extraordinarily pleased with himself.

‘I was a bit worried you’d make the connection between the little creep that had been pestering you and the extra body. I hope you didn’t mind me taking care of that. I get a bit pissed off when people mess with my family and that was quite a pleasant indulgence, actually. Did you like the way I made it look like a robbery?’ My fondness for Uncle Phil had evaporated. His previously well-hidden arrogance and condescension were now on display for all to see. ‘But it’s all worked out for the best anyway, don’t you think? I was starting to tire of my little game. Time to move on to other sport, and it looks like this will be a great way to make a parting statement. Although, it’s been such fun watching you chase your tails. Thank you for that, Sam, you’ve been so handy.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’ve had a front-row seat. It’s been quite enlightening, really. I always suspected you police were pretty average, but this has been something else. You should consider a career change. You’re not that good at this detecting business. You couldn’t even detect what was under your nose, not that it will be an issue any more. I must say though, young Maggie was a surprise. She’s got a bit of promise. Great profile by the way, pretty accurate.’