The soaring notes of Weber’s Clarinet Concerto Number 2 swirled around David Briggs’s apartment. He jotted down a few margin notes about a new case without fear of interruption, since Kate was on her way to new clients in Birmingham. He wasn’t expecting visitors, so he was surprised when his entry-phone buzzed. Briggs stared at the small screen, seeing blonde hair framed by a hood, the voice asking for admittance on Oxford university business had a slight American accent; distracted and curious, but with no sense of danger, Briggs pressed the button and let her in.
She stepped inside and transferred the pistol from her travelling bag to one of her shopping bags, before mounting the stairs and pressing the inside door bell.
David Briggs opened the door and greeted her with a puzzled smile
