“It doesn’t matter,” says Amy. “But I—”
“Come on,” says Rosie. “Just say.”
“I can’t say, you know that,” says Amy.
“Huh…you want my help, and yet here we are.”
“Okay, it was Elton John,” says Amy. “Now can we—”
“I’ve had some fun times with Elton,” says Rosie. “Some fun times. He’s calmed down a bit now, but haven’t we all? Did you like him?”
“I did,” says Amy.
“Did you like him more than you like me?”
“At this exact moment, yes,” says Amy.
“Okay,” says Rosie. “On with your story. So far you’re on a killing spree.”
“When Mark Gooch is found, just guess where I am?”
“Nearby?” says Rosie.
“Nearby,” says Amy.
“With a hammer and some nails?” asks Rosie.
“In Dublin.”
“With Bono?”
“No, with my husband. About an hour away by helicopter.”
“I have a helicopter,” says Rosie. “I think I do, I’m sure I bought one. I’ve definitely got a plane.”
“So I was beginning to feel paranoid. Bella Sanchez, then Mark Gooch. Maybe just a coincidence, but it didn’t feel right.”
“And then I read you the Andrew Fairbanks story?”
“Three murders, three clients, and I’m in the neighborhood every time. Someone must be trying to connect me to these murders.”
“You know I have to ask if you killed them?” says Rosie. “I’d get it. Capitalism isn’t easy on any of us. You could just snap?”
“I didn’t.”
“Or perhaps someone was paying you?” Rosie suggests. “For insider information. You didn’t pull the trigger, but there’s still blood on your hands? Good money?”
“What does your instinct tell you, Rosie?”
“Oh, I know you didn’t do it,” says Rosie. “Not with those crazy ears. So is someone trying to frame you for three murders?”
Amy shakes her head. She doesn’t know what’s happening. Her phone pings. She looks at Rosie. “It’s Jeff.”
“The boss?”
Amy nods, and looks at the message.
Remember that job we did for François Loubet? He is behind this, and we are both in trouble. I need you back in London. We can discuss everything. Stay safe.
François Loubet, the money-smuggler. They’d been protecting a woman who worked for him. Henk had been furious that they were working for such a notorious crook. That was the start of the end for him and Jeff really.
“What’s he saying?”
Amy is thinking. Fairbanks was found with a bag of money, that’s for sure. But the others weren’t. Another message comes through.
And do you know the name “Joe Blow”? Does that mean anything to you?
“Joe Blow”? Means nothing to Amy.
Nope. Should it?
“I mean, I’d be furious if I were him,” says Rosie. “You just shot three people, hung two of them from ropes, and nailed the other one to a tree. I’d certainly be calling HR.”
“He needs to talk to me,” says Amy. “I have to get back to London.”
Rosie gives a dubious purse of the lips.
“What?” Amy asks.
