'The door was open. McCool stood in the doorway and switched on the light. He gazed at an open safe, and then he turned his head slightly to observe a heap of stained brown gabardine which lay on the floor. It was an untidy sight, even though the legs and feet which protruded from it were expensively trousered and immaculately shod.'

Chief Inspector McCool has two murder cases on his hands - and one of the victims is his ex-fiancee, found dead after a reunion with him.