‘Big fat plastic bags full of coke?’

‘No, surprisingly, though we might find those when we strip it right down. Firearms – two, to be precise – and we’re pretty sure one of them was used to kill your Wang family. Ballistics are onto it but even at this stage . . .’

‘That’s great work, Don. Well done, your guys. Are they talking?’

‘Man and a woman, we’re keeping them well apart but he’s the talker. Terrified she’ll spill so he did it first.’

‘Often the way. Do you think they’ll lead you anywhere?’

‘Chances are they won’t know much but we’ll pump them until they go flat all the same. Miracles do happen.’

‘Life.’

‘Wouldn’t that be justice? They’ll be in the magistrates’ tomorrow anyway. Will you pass the news on?’

‘I’m with the Chief now, as it happens.’

‘I’m not in favour of capital punishment, as you know,’ Kieron said, ‘but there are times . . .’

‘A man and a woman shoot a family, including two kids, at point-blank – Christ, what kind of scum are they?’

‘You know the kind, Simon. We just haven’t had many like them on our doorstep before now.’

‘I’m the first to admit that I didn’t take this seriously enough. Certainly didn’t take on board what it could lead to on my own patch. I suppose I’ve always kept the Met apart in my mind – things happen there that would never have happened in a smaller country force back in the day.’

‘Definitely a wake-up call, Simon. It’s here and it’s not going away, it’s going to become a far bigger problem unless we can smash it soon. If we’re not on top of it, if we haven’t seen this lot off by next Christmas, latest, we never will.’

At ten past six, Simon was at the butcher’s counter in the supermarket, his mind on an earlier call from Adam Iliffe, giving him news he would eventually receive formally. Liam Payne had died of a self-administered, but accidental overdose, so Professor Shenfield’s verdict had been correct and that was a relief but it would not make it any easier for his family, and Liam was another victim, probably guilty of nothing except weakness and naivety, of wanting to keep up with others, and maybe to relieve stress and soften the effects of disappointment. Whatever, such an end to a young life was all too common, always regrettable. He was still dwelling on it when the person in front glanced at him in turning away from the counter. Hesitated.

‘Hello, Simon.’