Detective Sergeant Strachan stood in the centre of the Investigation Room, surrounded by the easels and notes and files strewn on the desks. What was he going to do? Run after the inspector and demand to go with him? Or follow him quietly?
He didn’t see how he could attempt either option. The first would lead to Danilov sacking him. And Danilov would soon notice the second; the man was too clever to be tricked so easily.
The inspector had asked him to look after his daughter, Elina. He must have been worried about her. Would Allen target her too? Was Danilov afraid for her safety?
Strachan took one last look at the map on the wall, with its pictures of the victims pasted over the locations where they had been found. For the first time, he noticed each picture had a number on it.
One for Sally Chen
Two for the American man at the Shanghai Country Club, Hank Chettle.
Three for Lieutenant Deschamps and his mistress.
Four for Miss Cavendish.
Five for the man in the undertaker’s. What was the name used by Danilov? Victorov, that was it.
Six for the Princess.
It was the order in which they were attacked. Why did the order matter?
Then, he noticed an additional number, 3A, written by the inspector, next to the Burlington Hotel. But no bodies had been found there, just a chess piece.
Strachan shook his head. He wished the inspector would confide in him more often; at least he would know what was going on. Danilov was exactly like his mother – ‘Only tell people what you want them to know. Your business is your business, it’s nothing to do with nobody else.’ He remembered her telling him that one day before he was about to go to school.
His mother, gone now.
He accepted he would never see her again, never hear her voice, never talk to her about the events of his day.
She was gone but she would never be forgotten. Not by him.
He shook his head, desperately trying to focus his thoughts. He knew now what he had to do. There would be no more mistakes.
The inspector had asked him to make sure Elina was safe. Well, he was going to protect her to the best of his ability. The inspector, for once, would have to look after himself.