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and made to re-cross the road, a voice from the next doorway said, ‘I hope you paid for those.’
    Kate turned and there was Ali, standing there with a smile on his face.
    Kate nearly fainted. He was the last person she wanted to see. Correction. The only person she wanted to see. But not under these circumstances. In a hotel bed with a bottle of champagne and a spliff he’d rolled to get them in the mood. So what the fuck was he doing outside the Old Bailey on the first day of Eddie’s trial? ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ she demanded. ‘If anyone sees us…’
    â€˜Everybody’s off to lunch,’ said Ali. ‘I watched.’
    â€˜And I’m supposed to meet the girls.’
    â€˜You will. I’m not going to stop you. I just wanted to say hello and that you look good enough to eat.’
    â€˜But what are you doing here?’ Kate asked again.
    â€˜Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Seeing you lot together. One big happy family.’
    â€˜But you weren’t in court… Were you?’ she added.
    â€˜CCTV love. Smile, you’re on candid camera. You do a lovely close-up.’
    â€˜Christ.’
    â€˜I had some time, and I wanted to see some of the trial. Not going well, is it?’
    â€˜Isn’t it?’
    â€˜I’d say not. Teflon Eddie’s in big trouble.’
    â€˜Don’t ask me.’
    â€˜Anyhow, I’m off now. Things to do, people to see. Keep in touch.’ And he smiled again, turned, walked off and vanished into the lunchtime crowds. Kate looked after him, and felt a pang that he was going.
    She ran across the road, followed Sadie’s directions and found the pub. ‘You took your time,’ said Poppy. ‘Drink’s getting warm.’
    â€˜Sorry, got lost,’ said Kate. ‘Who’s got a light?’
    As Ali walked away from Kate, it wasn’t only her luscious body that was on his mind. He knew all about Eddie and the mail van robbery that had gone badly wrong, with three of the robbers still at large, and he knew who they were, but had no proof. Eddie led to Robbo and the other two cheap villains sitting up in the public gallery with their swag on their backs. Better suits than Ali could afford on his police salary. And with their flash birds, one of whom at least would suck Ali’s dick dry whenever he wanted. Kate. Ali yearned for her like a teenager with his first girlfriend. And there she was surrounded by the scum of East End villains. And he fucking envied them.
    Bastards. Ali was no fool. He knew why he was on a fast track for promotion. The colour of his bloody skin. And he also knew people were watching him. Important people. Some ready to push him onwards and upwards, and others ready to drop him like a hot brick if he put a foot wrong. And shagging Kate Ellis wasn’t a particularly good career move. Or maybe it was. Only time and results would tell. Besides, he couldn’t leave her alone. She was like smack to a junkie. Catnip to his old mum’s moggie. An addiction, and just spotting her there in court, and later in the street, was an aphrodisiac. But he kept a poker face, even though he saw hers go white at the sight of him. Keep calm, babe, he thought. Keep very calm.
    Since Ali had first met Kate they’d managed to meet several times. Always at Kate’s instigation. She called him on his mobile, gave a time she was free, and it was up to him to say yes or no. It had always been yes so far, even though he had to neglect his job sometimes to make the date. They always met at hotels where Ali booked the room, arrived first and waited for her in the bedroom. Their sex was sometimes fast and furious, sometimes tender and loving. Kate was the happiest she had been for years, but knew that if Robbo ever found out, she’d be in a world of pain.
    Ali partly justified the meetings by any information he could glean about the gang during their