THIRTY-SEVEN
Within an hour of discovering the bodies, the police knew their identities. The lease on the rental agreement showed their names. The woman’s name set off the alarm bells instantly: Melanie Knills. A surprising lapse in her attempts to remain anonymous, using her real name. A quick trawl through employment records threw up the man’s name. John Ashton. Computer technician, would-be analyst. Police visited his last known workplace and by the time Nolan received the phone call, the pieces were being fitted together.
Then came his talk with MacMillan. The not-so-subtle warnings about Brunt. Nolan already knew of the man’s past, his boxing, but his slight build, the hunted expression, none of it caused him concern when last they’d met. And yet, MacMillan’s words rang out loud in
