Bailey smiled innocently, deflecting their suspicious glances, and congratulated herself on breaking through to this new level. But she reminded herself not to get complacent, especially around people as deadly as this.

23

The remnants of a chicken doner kebab sat in a polystyrene carton on the upturned cardboard-box coffee table by the couch. Bailey turned up her nose at the sight of it.

‘I’m not the culprit,’ said Dale. ‘Sadly they don’t have much in the way of vegan options.’

‘You could have had the falafels,’ Frank intoned.

‘I don’t like chickpeas,’ Dale replied.

‘You’re a vegan?’ asked Bailey, eyeing Dale with surprise. ‘Didn’t figure you for the type.’

She guessed it explained his glowing complexion.

‘I don’t like cruelty to animals,’ he said.

Bailey assessed him admiringly. Compassionate and handsome.

This was the first time they’d met since he’d visited her apartment a little over a week ago, and however each of them might have felt about the outcome of that particular evening, everything now seemed to be business as usual. And Bailey guessed that was probably a good thing.

‘You know, I worked a case some years back,’ said Frank. ‘There was this chickpea who murdered another chickpea.’

They both looked at him blankly.

‘It was a clear-cut case of hummus-cide,’ he said with a straight face.

She and Dale groaned. It was a clear sign to get down to work.

‘I had surveillance set up on the funeral,’ Dale began. ‘We got plenty of shots of you, Bailey. You looked like you fitted in just fine.’

‘I’m glad my cover looks convincing to you, but I’m more concerned that it looks convincing to them.’

‘Did you learn anything useful from being there?’ asked Frank.

Bailey filled them in on the progress of the operation so far.

‘He didn’t mention anything about a date for the deal, but he did offer to get me a sample.’

‘Getting a sample is a great plan,’ said Frank. ‘It could serve to confirm the provenance of the weaponry. I’ll get hold of the eight hundred pounds for you as soon as possible.’

‘I think the sample is a gesture of his sincerity,’ she added. ‘A way to make sure I stay on board. I think he’s really keen to shift these guns.’

Frank thought about it for a few moments. ‘If he hasn’t confirmed a date, then that means it could be that the weapons aren’t even in the country yet.’

Bailey nodded and pondered the possibility.

‘Did you find out anything else?’ asked Dale.

Bailey cast her mind back to the drinks reception in the hotel. ‘I got the opportunity to talk to Nancy in a bit more depth.’

‘And…?’

‘I think she’s warming to me.’ Bailey paused. ‘But she seems obsessed with the idea of getting revenge. She’s determined to find out who killed Adrian and she’ll go to war if necessary.’

‘The last thing we need on our hands is a gangland war,’ said Frank. ‘Car bombs. Shootings. Innocent people getting caught in the crossfire. Tit-for-tat vendetta. Once this kind of thing kicks off, the reprisals just end up escalating back and forth.’