23 There’s Always a Rat CloseThe shadows concealed Mary O’Conner’s presence as she sat in the chapel of rest where some unfortunate soul lay on full display - ready for loved ones to say one last goodbye. She held the silenced pistol in her left hand as she waited for Peter Drake, the funeral parlour owner, to arrive for work. She knew from her surveillance that Drake was always in at six - a full two hours before any of his employees - just so he could make sure all was in order and no prying eyes had cause to take an interest in his disreputable activities. The lock rattled in the rear office back door. O’Conner checked her watch - bang on six as she knew the ex-SAS soldier would be.
Drake locked the heavy steel door behind him as the fluorescent lights blinked unsteadily until they fin
