I stood for several seconds, staring at the motionless form before me. There was no sign of life. Thick, red blood ran in narrow rivulets back towards the house. Dig two graves, I thought. The words of Jenny’s text came back to me just as I felt her hand touch mine. Whoever thought that up knew what they were talking about. For Webb, it was now truly over.

The cops repeated the instructions for me to drop the Glock. With the danger from Webb removed, I complied with their instructions, lying face down on the tarmac as they handcuffed me and then searched my pockets. Only when they found my warrant card were the plastic cuffs cut and was I allowed to stand back up.

My guess was that Webb was dead. One of the ARV cops reckoned that he could feel a pulse. From what I could see, the sad figure lying prostrate on the tarmac only had one eye intact and half his skull lay in pieces on the nearby grass. I doubted very much if he’d survive.

Jenny clasped me to her and we stood silent for some time, unable to speak. Finally we turned back towards the cottage and she told me what had happened while I had been on the phone to Grahamslaw. Webb had been hiding in the bathroom. He’d jumped her on the landing and then told her he was going to kill me and make her watch. I didn’t say anything, but my guess was it would have been the other way around.

I tried to tell her about what Webb had claimed, about the firefight when I had been ambushed by him and his mates. Clearly distressed, she told me to leave if for another time.

As I had with Monaghan, I wondered what kind of a man could harbour such hate for so long. It wasn’t a question I would be able to let go easily. I was going to have to find out as much about Webb as I could. Even if he died, I would need to understand what had made him tick. Only then would I be able to put things to rest. Only when I understood could I put things behind me.

Grahamslaw was one of the last to arrive. He was in a chauffeur-driven Volvo and had a young press liaison officer with him. That was all I needed. As if I hadn’t stomached enough, now there was going to be press interest.

By that time, shock had started to get the better of Jenny and she wasn’t in a fit state to talk. At my suggestion, she started making tea for everyone. I hoped that keeping busy might stop her thinking about what had just happened. But I probably wasn’t doing her justice. As she had with me, I’d seen a side to my wife that I hadn’t known existed.

It wasn’t long before I managed to get Grahamslaw on his own. I was walking down the garden when he came to join me. The press officer was still in the house using the telephone.

‘How are the two ARV cops?’ I asked.

‘As good as can be expected.’

‘They did the right thing. Webb wanted them to think he was going to shoot.’

‘I know … but that isn’t what you really want to talk about is it, Finlay?’

Grahamslaw was right. There were some important questions to which Kevin and I needed answers.

The Anti-Terrorist Squad Commander was generous with his explanations. I learned about the birth certificate, about the meeting with the Commissioner and how my name had come up in the conversation. It was how the Commander had made the link and why he had called me with the warning. He corroborated what Webb had claimed about being a hired gun recruited by Monaghan for the job. But there was more than simple generosity in his words. There was warmth, sympathy. He understood the predicament that Kevin and I had faced.

‘What do you think about the snatches that Monaghan asked us to do?’ I asked.

‘Only an opinion, but I agree with what Webb told you before he was shot. Monaghan was tidying up, getting everyone in one place where he could dispose of you all in one fell swoop.’

‘And it was nothing to do with the embassy?’ I asked, wondering if there had been clues that I had missed.

‘Nothing at all.’

‘So why try and bring about a situation where Kevin and I were likely to get captured?’

‘A bit of a mystery. My Superintendent thinks he might have had two plans. One to get you nicked and, if that didn’t work, one to bump you off.’

‘Why get us arrested, though?’

‘To ruin your lives … like he believed you had ruined his. He wanted revenge, pure and simple.’

I stopped walking. ‘So, what now? Are Kevin and I both finished?’ I asked, my heart in my mouth. It was crunch time. Only now would I learn what fate Kevin and I faced.

Grahamslaw kept moving for several steps before he stopped and turned to face me. The look on his face was solemn. It didn’t look good. ‘Finlay … you and your mate have shot at a PC, conspired to kill and kidnap, thrown grenades at SO19 and you expect me not to nick you?’

‘The PC was OK, wasn’t he?’ I did my best to sound desperate.

‘Yes.’ Grahamslaw chuckled. ‘And you gave yourself away when I pretended he’d been killed. Tell me now … what would you do in my position?’

‘What would you have done in mine?’ I replied, reassured that Grahamslaw seemed amused but, at the same time worried that he was playing games with me.

Grahamslaw smiled broadly. That smile warmed me through to the very core. He stepped towards me and put his hand on my shoulder.

The next question surprised me. ‘You’re wasted in uniform, Finlay. Would you be interested in joining my team?’

It was my turn to grin. ‘Me and Kevin?’ I asked.

‘Perhaps … we’ll see.’

As we turned back towards the house, we could see Jenny through the kitchen window. She was making a brew for the paramedics who were still working on Richard Webb. She waved and smiled bravely.

The press liaison officer was scuttling down the garden towards us.

‘I suppose there’s no way we can keep this out of the papers?’ I said to him.

‘No way,’ he replied. ‘Unless something really big happens today, this is going to be on the front page. You’re a hero, Inspector. Just what the job needs.’

His mobile telephone started ringing. As he answered it, I turned back to Grahamslaw. ‘Are you married, guv?’

‘It’s complicated. You might say I’m married to the job.’

‘Kids?’

‘No.’

‘That’s a pity. It might make it easier for you to understand.’

‘Understand what?’

‘I’ve had more excitement in my life than most people even read about. I’m forty-eight years old and I’ve got a child and a wife that I love. I’m not a hero, just an ordinary bloke. I just want a quiet life now. Is that too much to ask?’

‘Guess not.’ Grahamslaw paused for a few moments, as if running something through in his mind. ‘OK, leave the press to me. I’ll see what I can do. Like the press officer said, though, this is a big story. It’ll take something pretty major to bury it.’