‘See?’ said Liam. On the television screen, a high-powered car ran over two elderly pedestrians.
Shepherd raised his eyebrows. ‘Did you just run over them?’
‘You’re supposed to,’ said Liam. ‘That’s how you move up to the next level.’
‘By killing people?’
‘Dad! I’m trying to concentrate here.’ The car squealed round a corner on two wheels and knocked a cyclist into the air.
Katra popped her head round the door. ‘Hiya, Dan. I’m doing fried chicken, rosemary potatoes and broccoli.’
‘Perfect,’ said Shepherd. He expected the boy to quibble about the broccoli but Liam went on with his game. Sue had always had a problem getting any green vegetables into him, but he ate whatever Katra put in front of him.
The doorbell rang.
‘I’ll get it,’ said Katra, and headed down the hallway.
‘What’s this about you wanting piano lessons?’
Liam shrugged.
‘Why the piano? Why not the guitar?’
‘I don’t want to play the guitar.’
‘Pianos are expensive.’
‘We don’t have to buy one. There’s one at school and I’d have lessons there.’
‘You know what’s a great instrument?’
‘What?’
‘I don’t know what it’s called but it’s shaped like a triangle and you hit it.’
‘It’s called a triangle,’ said Liam. ‘And you’re taking the mickey.’
Katra reappeared at the door. ‘It’s one of your colleagues,’ she said.
It was Jimmy Sharpe and Shepherd gave him the holdall.
‘Nice,’ said Sharpe, nodding towards the kitchen, where Katra had disappeared.
‘She’s a kid,’ said Shepherd.
‘I only said she was nice.’
‘She’s an au pair.’
‘I don’t care what her religion is – I’d give her one.’
‘You’re a real gentleman, Razor.’ He jerked a thumb at the holdall. ‘Be careful with that. It’s been counted.’
‘Very funny,’ said Sharpe. He lowered his voice. ‘Have you heard anything about Sam Hargrove moving on?’
‘Moving on where?’
‘Bigger and better things.’
‘It’s news to me.’
‘It’ll be a bugger if he goes,’ said Sharpe.
‘Why would he? The unit’s his baby and we’ve had a string of successes.’
‘I’m just telling you what I heard,’ said Sharpe. ‘Keep your ear to the ground. Forewarned is forearmed.’
‘Any more cliches or are you done?’
Sharpe winked and headed for his car.
Shepherd went back into the sitting room. The car was driving at full speed along a crowded highway. The driver kept leaning out of the window to fire a shotgun. ‘Is he doing what I think he is?’
‘ Dad! ’
A mobile phone rang in the kitchen. ‘Dan, it’s one of yours!’ shouted Katra.
Shepherd hurried into the kitchen. It was his work phone. Shepherd picked it up. It was Hargrove.
‘How’s it going?’ asked Shepherd, by way of a greeting. He never used his boss’s name or rank, either on the phone or when they were together in case he was overheard.
‘We’ve got an address in Tower Hamlets,’ said Hargrove. ‘A three-bedroom council flat. We’re working through the databases now but, as always at weekends, we’re not getting much co-operation from the local council or the utility companies.’
‘I can’t believe they’re smuggling in that much cash and living in a council flat,’ said Shepherd.
‘They might just be clever,’ said Hargrove. ‘Staying below the radar. Look, something’s come up and we need to talk. Face to face.’
‘Tonight?’
‘Tomorrow will be soon enough. I’ve got to pop into the Yard, then see someone at Waterloo. How about I meet you by the London Eye at eleven?’
‘I’ll be there,’ said Shepherd. ‘Anything I should worry about?’ Hargrove’s tone had told him something was wrong.
‘Nothing earth-shattering. I’ll talk it through with you tomorrow.’ He ended the call.
Shepherd put his phone on the kitchen counter. He hoped the investigation hadn’t run into problems.