‘Normally I’d agree,’ said Chandler, ‘but, as I said, this needs to be kept secret. That’s the whole point.’ He looked to Flo. Her headset was on as she tapped at the keyboard, dialling her boss’s number again.

‘This guy’s right,’ said Heath, pointing at Roper. ‘I don’t want to go out there alone.’

Chandler weighed up his options. The situation was getting out of control.

‘Okay,’ he said, pointing at Roper. ‘You come with me to the place.’

Roper glanced at Flo and paced across the room towards Chandler. Chandler set his feet firm and prayed that the big guy’s resolve had been weakened by the earlier attack. Waiting until Roper was just past him Chandler dragged his handcuffs from his belt and slid them over Roper’s wrist. In the split second it took for Mitch’s goon to react, Chandler had shackled the other half to Heath’s wrist. Heath and Roper were now conjoined.

‘What the hell?’ said Heath. His confusion was matched by Roper’s, though this ended abruptly as Chandler pulled out his gun and cold-cocked the policeman on the side of the head, pounding his already damaged skull. Roper went down in a heap, taking the shackled Heath with him.

Chandler turned towards Flo. She stared at him and her colleague spreadeagled on the floor and pressed her hand to her headphones. Had Mitch answered? As Chandler closed the distance she drew her gun. Swinging his hand, he knocked it from her grasp and across the floor. Grabbing her, he pulled her athletic frame into a headlock before dragging her towards the cells like a disruptive prisoner. Within seconds, and despite her vigorous resistance, he had tossed her into Heath’s old cell. The door slammed closed behind her as she slid across the floor, cursing him.

Returning to the main office, Nick had left his desk and was standing over a terrified Heath and the prone Roper.

‘Sarge? What are you doing?’ asked his young constable, staring at him, hands by his sides. His voice was confused, weak. No training had prepared him for this.

‘He’s gone mental, for fuck’s sake!’ answered Heath, trying to move but unable to get far with Roper’s dead weight attached to his wrist. ‘Stop him! Shoot him! He’s caught whatever disease the other fucker had.’

‘Sarge,’ pleaded Nick. ‘Just let this go.’

Chandler stepped forward. ‘Nick, I can’t explain. I have to.’ He balled his fists. He didn’t want to hurt his young colleague. He didn’t want to hurt anyone.

‘You can explain,’ pleaded Nick. ‘Whatever it is.’

‘Yeah, fucking well explain,’ added Heath, still struggling to pull his wrist from the loop of the cuff.

Chandler sat down in the nearest chair and took a deep breath. From the corner of his eye he watched Nick close in.