It had been three or four years ago now. A perfectly judged turn across the oncoming traffic took her blue BMW into a service road leading to a handsome terrace of houses with impressive colonnaded entrances. The houses were set back from the main road and shielded by a line of mature trees. As Jane knew only too well, the respectable exteriors were misleading. At least two of these solidly panelled front doors kept the activity behind them a dark secret. Jane found a residents’ parking space and used it. She was about ten minutes late, according to the dash display. If the client was here Vanessa would still be entertaining him with drinks. She ran up the few steps and let herself into the corridor hallway. It was not nearly as imposing as the one at her home, being mainly occupied by the stairwell. Maybe it was more welcoming to apprehensive punters. The poor dears, she crooned to herself as she closed the door softly behind her and made her way to the basement.
