Welcome to Murder Mile.

Today, I'm standing at 266 Edgeware Road in Paddington, W2.

One street east of the blackout ripper slaughter of Dawes-June,

one street north of the Met Police's shooting of David Martin,

two streets west of the studio where Rich Christie shot some pornographic snaps,

and four streets south of Timothy Cotter,

the sweet-faced 14-year-old boy who wouldn't harm a fly. Coming soon to Murder Mile.

On the north corner of Chapel Street and Edgware Road, currently sits a branch of Marks and Spencers.

It's the kind of place where people who want to be posh but aren't posh shop.

Hence its food hall is often stocked with pretentiously tasty treats for Tarquin and Tara, such as

Scotch Quail eggs, caviar-coated Mars bars, champagne and oyster milkshakes, and the devil's very

own vegetable, mange too. Ewe. But before the original buildings were demolished to make way for the A-40 flyover, on the

ground floor of 266 Edgeware Road, one stood a humble little eatery called the Victory

Cafe.

Although only small and narrow,

it was a friendly little place which served simple foods

like tea, coffee, toast and fry-ups.

And being in an era when most people, especially in a city,

didn't own their own kitchens,

these cafes provided three square meals a day and was a place of warmth, companionship and safety.

The Victory Cafe was managed by 50-year-old Alice Williams, a quiet, nervous, but hardworking lady who everyone called Madame.

So respected was Alice that when a regular customer called June needed a help,

...