‘To you, Jack, and to your new position, because all I want is for you to—’ Maggie never finished, as there was a loud boom and sound of falling debris from right beneath their bedroom, making it feel for one terrifying moment as if the floor was about to fall in underneath them. They ran into the corridor shouting for Penny, and heard Hannah screaming as Penny came down holding the baby. As they reached the ground floor, loose bricks littered the floor by the stairs and inside the kitchen the hole was now massive. One end of the RSJ had broken loose and fallen with a mound of bricks.
Penny looked fearfully at them both as if it was somehow her fault. They were gaping in shock with brick dust in their hair, when Hannah picked up a brick and said, ‘Nana said it was a bugger to put up.’
Jack and Maggie glanced at each other and started laughing.
Work resumed the following morning, and Marius and his team, assisted by Jack, managed to manoeuvre the massive RSJ back into position. Marius couldn’t apologise enough.
While Jack was brewing coffee, he got a call from Laura, upset at the news he would not be returning to the station.
‘What are you going to do?’
‘I can’t give you any details yet, Laura. But it’s a positive move. Very liberating.’
‘Mysterious as ever, eh Jack?’ she laughed. ‘But positive and liberating sounds good.’
‘Gotta go, that’s the doorbell,’ Jack said. ‘Look out for your christening invitation.’ He opened the front door and the postman handed him a small parcel. It was a square box, around six by ten inches, wrapped in brown paper secured with packing tape. The postmark was blurred so Jack couldn’t tell where it had come from and the address was printed in thick black felt-tip. Jack took it up to his office, then went to give Maggie her coffee. She was in the shower so he left the mug at her bedside and returned to the office.
Opening a drawer, he took a pair of scissors and cut through the tape. The box itself was slightly battered, as if it had been used before. He carefully eased off the lid. Inside, something oval-shaped was covered in bubble wrap. He cut through the plastic and then eased out a dark red leather photograph case that opened like a small book. Horatio Nelson was written in elegant gold lettering on one side. There was also a tiny, folded slip of yellowing parchment. On the facing side was an exquisite drawing of Nelson, not in uniform but in a high-necked shirt with his hair tied back. Jack carefully unfolded the note. The writing was very faded, but he could make out the date, 1799, and the name Emma Hamilton. Jack took a deep breath. The portrait had belonged to Lady Hamilton. He searched through the wrappings, then the worn cardboard box for any message. There was something written in ink at the bottom of the box: First, gain the victory and then make the best of it you can.
Jack tried to recall if he had ever mentioned to Adam his choice of name for his son. The gift he assumed would be of great value. He studied the leather case and the perfect drawing, certain it had to be the original. Spreading out the brown wrapping paper he had removed, he tried again to see where it had been sent from, and although it was very smudged, he thought it might be Berlin.
Next, he Googled the quote, which of course was from Nelson himself. Repeating the words, he concluded that Adam was warning him. He did feel as if he had won a victory. But he knew the fight was not over. He also knew with certainty for the first time that Adam Border was not his friend but his adversary.
The darkness that had clung to him was gone; it was a new beginning and the contest between them had already commenced. Now they would see which of them would win.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Nigel Stoneman and Tory Macdonald, the team I work with at La Plante Global.
The forensic scientists and members of the Met Police who help with my research. I could not write without their valuable input.
Cass Sutherland for his valuable advice on police procedures and forensics.
The entire team at my publisher, Bonnier Books UK, who work together to have my books edited, marketed, publicised and sold.
A special thank you to Ben Willis and Bill Massey for their great editorial advice and guidance.
Allen and Unwin in Australia and Jonathan Ball in South Africa, thank you for doing such fantastic work.
All the reviewers, journalists, bloggers and broadcasters who interview me, write reviews and promote my books. Thank you for your time and work.
My readers, without you I would not be able to do a job I love, sincerest thanks.