Hannah was trying to put a brave face on things, I could tell that. I forced the corners of my own mouth to form a smile. ‘Indigestion,’ I said. ‘I should have turned down that lobster sandwich. I never do well with crustacean-based food at altitude.’

‘I’m Jewish,’ she said.

I obviously looked puzzled.

‘Jews don’t eat shellfish,’ she explained.

‘I knew that, and very wise.’ I nodded. ‘Can play merry hell with the gastric juices.’ I winced as the plane was buffeted again.

‘If it lives in the sea it needs fins and scales to be kosher. But I don’t care – I love lobster.’

‘Not Orthodox, then?’

She looked at me again. ‘I’m not sure what I am any more. I didn’t make bat mitzvah, even.’

A sadness seemed to fill her eyes again. I looked down and saw that she was still holding my hand.

Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the turbulence cleared. She smiled up at me, but the sadness in her eyes didn’t go away.

‘So, you’re going to take care of me in England?’ Hannah said, letting go of my hand.

I couldn’t be sure but I thought I detected an amused quirk in the set of her mouth as she asked the question.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I’m going to take care of you.’

Part Two

Chapter 12

Present day: London, England

London is the greatest city in the world and don’t let anyone tell you different.

It is in May, at least. When the sun is shining.

I was standing by the panoramic window of my office, looking out over New Oxford Street.

Private has grown into a worldwide private detective agency. We have offices in Los Angeles, New York, Rome, Dublin – and right here in London, of course. We are expanding all the time. We are the biggest and we are the best. Our clients range from rock legends and movie stars to government departments. From a wife suspicious of her philandering husband to the Metropolitan Police itself.