Cameron grunted, releasing his grip for a second. Jamie turned away on her knees, scrambling for the exit, trying to get up.

His boot crunched down on her ankle and strong hands grabbed the back of her jeans, tugging her towards the opening.

"You're only leaving one way," he said, yanking Jamie over and then kicking her in the stomach, his face contorted in a snarl.

She curled inwards, trying to protect herself, pain shooting through her. Her fingers scrabbled for the pen in her pocket, clutching it in one fist.

As he kicked again, Jamie grabbed for his foot and pulled it towards her, tugging him off balance. She scrambled on top of him, using the pen to stab him in the groin. Once. Twice. He howled in pain and doubled over.

She took her chance. Jamie got up and ran for the exit.

A crackle behind her.

A burning pain in her back.

The shuddering agony of electricity shot through her and she crumpled to the floor, limbs jerking. Jamie's mind was screaming even as her body was frozen by the shock.

Cameron stood over her, the police-issue Taser in one hand.

"It's been so hard for you lately, hasn't it?" He straightened his tie then bent to her feet. "First you lose your daughter, then your job, then you're evicted. Your community is crumbling around you. It's no wonder you had to end it all. But at least you chose to jump from somewhere with a great view."

He picked up Jamie's feet and dragged her paralyzed body across the floor towards the east opening.

Chapter 31

Jamie counted in her mind, knowing that the complete paralysis only lasted a few seconds. She could start to feel a tingle in her limbs again but she remained still, only hoping that she would get her strength back in time.

Cameron dropped her feet and swept aside the safety barrier. The wind was stronger now, buffeting them as he dragged her closer to the edge.

"Bracing, isn't it?" He grinned, and Jamie saw a mania born of addiction to power there. Cameron was used to getting everything he wanted, destroying lives in the shadows while he stood squeaky clean in public. He bent to pick up her feet again.

Jamie felt tingling in her arms and legs. One more second, she thought. Don't move too soon. The gaping hole in the building was only a meter away now and she struggled to relax as Cameron dragged her closer.

Then she saw it.

A blowtorch ready for the next day's welding. It was within reach, but she only had one chance.

"I'll make sure the papers write something good about your death," Cameron said. "Perhaps I'll even do the eulogy at your funeral." He turned and smiled. "Fitting, don't you think?"

Jamie lunged for the blowtorch as she kicked out with both feet.

Cameron fell backwards, teetering on the edge. He grabbed for the side girder, pulling himself back in.

Jamie pressed the switch on the blowtorch, sending a spurt of flame into his face.

Cameron screamed in rage and pain, protecting his face with his hands. The smell of singed hair and burned flesh filled the air. He charged her, bellowing his anger, blocking her path to the exit as he ran at her like a bull.

Jamie dropped the torch, ducked away. She just needed to stay out of his reach.

Thick metal girders led up to the next level. Jamie ran for them and began to climb, fixing her eyes on the rivets in front of her, trying to ignore the sheer drop beneath, one thousand feet to the ground below.

"Come back here, bitch." Cameron's voice was rough and he breathed heavily as he pulled himself after her.

Hand over hand, Jamie climbed. She reached the next level only to find the floor hadn't been finished and there was no way to get down again. She could only go up.

The Shard tapered as it rose into the night sky, the girders getting thinner the higher she climbed. Jamie could hear Cameron's breathing below her. Her arms shook with effort as she pulled herself up another inch.

***

Blake arrived at Borough Market to find Magda gazing up at the Shard through binoculars.

"The Mayor's new office is up there," she said, focusing the lenses on the upper levels. "If Jamie's up there, we might be able to see her."

Blake stood, his fists clenched as Magda slowly scanned the building. Every part of him wanted to be with Jamie now. He'd been crazy to sleep after telling her about Cameron. He should have known she would take action.

"Oh no." Magda's voice chilled Blake with its dark intensity.

"What is it?" he said, grabbing the binoculars from her and training them on the upper levels.

"Look at the east corner," Magda said. "That must be her."

Blake could make out a lone figure clambering up one of the exposed metal girders on the open east side of the building.

Behind her, another figure climbed with strong movements, gaining on her quickly.

"Jamie…" Blake whispered. "Hold on." He spun to Magda. "How do we get up there?"

She shook her head. "There are so many levels of security. We won't get in that way." Her eyes narrowed. "But there might be something."

"Anything," Blake said. "Please. We have to help her."

"You have your gift," Magda said. "I have my own."

She pulled one of her sleeves up, revealing the tattooed ravens that whirled on her arm. Pulling a small penknife from her bag, she cut a symbol into the feathers of one of the birds, tracing three whorls into her skin. A bead of blood welled and dripped down her arm to the ground.

As it splashed on the earth, Magda began to whistle.

The tune was soft at first and then stronger, the notes a Celtic refrain of growing power.

The wind changed and the cold made Blake shiver as Magda called on the Morrigan, the shape-shifting goddess of war, fate and death. She who roamed the battlefields in the shape of a raven, choosing those who would live and who would die.

As Magda whistled into the wind, her hands held high, Blake heard the beat of wings on the air. A flock of ravens appeared out of the night and flew overheard, wheeling about her. They were strangely silent, their beady eyes looking down on the one who called them.

Magda turned towards the Shard and her whistling song switched to a harsher refrain.

She pointed at the top of the spire and the birds streamed away from her, cawing loudly now, a jarring cacophony that drowned out the sound of the city.

They flew up and soon a dark cloud obscured the top of the Shard. Blake could only pray for the outcome above.

Chapter 32

Jamie's arms burned as she tried to haul herself up a little further, inching away from Cameron into the highest reaches of the building. The wind buffeted her and she clung to the metal, heart pounding as she hung above the void, vertigo making her head spin.

She looked down to see him inches below her foot, his hand stretched out to grab her.

"I will see you fall tonight," Cameron said. "So give in to it, Jamie. Lean out and you will see your daughter again."

Jamie stamped down on his grasping fingers.

"Polly never gave up," she said, panting with the effort of holding on and trying to kick him away. "Neither will I."

Cameron grabbed her foot and twisted it. Jamie gasped in pain as he forced her leg sideways off the side of the girder. Off balance for a second, she grabbed for another hold and slipped down a few inches.