‘But it was you who planted the car bomb, wasn’t it? You personally. You killed them.’

Jennifer gave a light shrug, as if it wasn’t a big deal. ‘If you want to get something done quickly with the least amount of trouble, I generally find it’s better to do it yourself. Anyhow, it was a very simple device. A child could operate it.’

Bailey shook her head in disbelief. Her own sister was an out-and-out murderer.

‘Are you going to arrest me?’ said Jennifer. It almost sounded like a challenge.

‘I can’t. The murder investigation has been shut down. To protect Lewis Ballantyne.’ Bailey paused. ‘And I guess that suits you just fine. Once he gets in, you’ll have him in your pocket, because you’ve got that footage of him, haven’t you? You’ll have City Hall at your beck and call.’

Jennifer smiled coldly. ‘I was onto him as soon as he announced his candidacy for Mayor last November.’ She gave a contemptuous sneer. ‘He was weak. He was so easy to set up. These politicians. These men. They’re easy prey. They’re asking for it.’

Bailey couldn’t believe how twisted her sister had become.

‘I became a policewoman because of you,’ said Bailey hoarsely. ‘To get justice. And now it turns out that you’re little more than one of the common criminals I’ve spent my life trying to lock up.’

‘Considering what I went through, I didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter. So much was taken from me. Now I want something back. And I’m going to take it and no one’s going to stand in my way. Not even you.’

Bailey swallowed. ‘Are you going to kill me, Jennifer? Your own sister?’

Jennifer eyed her for a few long moments. ‘The reason I agreed to meet you here today, Bailey, was to warn you. Don’t pursue Mister Snigiss any further. Mister Snigiss doesn’t like people poking into his business matters and Mister Snigiss doesn’t want you to get hurt.’

The threat was more than implicit.

They both stared at each other mutely for what seemed like a long time, then Bailey broke the silence.

‘Well, maybe Mister Snigiss should be more concerned about his own safety,’ said Bailey. ‘I don’t know if you’re aware, but one of the people you blew up in the car bomb was a member of a powerful crime family called the Molloys and they’re out for your blood.’

‘Pah!’ sneered Jennifer. ‘I can take care of myself.’

Bailey suddenly felt emotionally drained. Surely there was still some spark of something from before left in her sister.

‘Dad’s got cancer,’ said Bailey. ‘He hasn’t got long to go. It’s serious. It’s stage four. He’s been moved to a hospice down in Sydenham.’

Jennifer shrugged indifferently. ‘I barely remember him. Or Mum. They died a long time ago, along with Jennifer. That life means nothing to me any more.’

‘He never gave up on you,’ said Bailey, angered at Jennifer’s dismissive tone. ‘He’s been searching for you all these years. Everyone else thought you were dead, including me. But not him. He was convinced you were still alive somewhere out there. And it turns out he was right.’