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‘What I like about you,’ said Ross, ‘is how quickly you catch on.’

‘And what I most like about you, Mr Hogan, is one can never be sure what to expect next.’ Avril reluctantly chased after Ross as he followed the signs for coaches.

‘We could still grab a taxi,’ said Avril, as they passed the queue at the rank, but Ross ignored her as he strode past them, not stopping until he reached a coach that was being boarded by a long line of waiting passengers.

Just as they reached the end of the queue, a second bus appeared and parked behind the first.

Ross climbed onto the second bus as the queue continued to board the first.

‘We get to Victoria quicker on the first one,’ suggested Avril.

No sooner had Ross and Avril climbed aboard than the doors closed firmly shut and the coach moved off.

‘Hi Danny,’ said Ross to the driver, before he led his charge to the back, where two men Avril didn’t recognize stood up and introduced themselves.

‘Jack Hawksby,’ said the Commander, ‘and this is my colleague, William Warwick.’

‘When you’ve been in my profession for as long as I have,’ said Avril, as she shook hands with both of them, ‘you know a policeman when you see one. So, am I about to be arrested, or released with a caution?’

‘Neither,’ said the Commander, ‘but we were rather hoping you might consider joining our team.’

‘That’s a first,’ said Avril. ‘Do I have a choice?’

‘Avril,’ said Ross, ‘we’re on your side, but while Simon Hartley is still in prison and Khalil stands to make a fortune if the French land the arms deal, your life could be in danger even though you’re back home.’

‘So what can I do to help?’ said Avril, sounding serious for the first time.

‘Perhaps we could start by asking you a few questions,’ said William as the coach moved onto the motorway.

‘Of course,’ said Avril.

William asked his first question. ‘Were you in the Overseas Club on the night Paolo Conti was murdered?’

‘I most certainly was,’ Avril replied without hesitation. ‘In fact, I was sitting next to Conti at the time.’

‘And was it Simon Hartley who literally put the knife in?’

‘No, Hartley was seated at the other end of the bar having a drink with Khalil.’

‘Then who did kill Conti?’

Avril hesitated for some time before she said, ‘Prince Ahmed bin Majid, the second son of the Minister of Defence.’

‘And if the case were to come to court, would you be willing to confirm that, under oath?’

She hesitated even longer, before saying, ‘Yes, I would.’

‘Thank you,’ said the Commander.

‘It’s the least I can do,’ said Avril, looking directly at Ross.

‘And would you be willing to sign a statement to that effect?’ asked William as the coach left the motorway and joined the Hammersmith flyover.

‘Yes,’ she whispered, almost indiscernibly.

William opened his briefcase and extracted a single sheet of paper which he handed across to Avril.

As she read the document, her hand began to tremble. ‘It’s my death warrant,’ she said, still shaking.