Chapters (67)
- Cover
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
‘It started with that but I think that was maybe the tip of iceberg, or even unrelated. Liam Payne wasn’t a kid, he’d been a junkie for a while. Having said which, yes, I do want to focus on Starly for the next week.’
‘How many bods?’
‘Just me. Start flooding the place even with plain clothes and word’ll be straight out – it could be already.’
He filled Kieron in on the Chinese herbalist, and the men who had been caught on camera. Kieron’s painkillers were obviously working because he was focused on the conversation, half sitting up now, his knee ignored.
‘I’ll leave you alone there then, just use any other bods as and when. You’ll be needed in the conference though, and by then you might have got something more.’
‘It’s spotting the kids they’re grooming and making use of, as much as spotting the dealers. Get to them and it’s a lot easier.’
‘Don’t be so sure. They’ll have filled them with the terrors of hell about saying a single word. These men know how to keep kids on side. Step carefully.’
Cat called from the kitchen, and Simon helped Kieron hobble through.
‘Nothing like a nice chat about crime to put the colour back in your cheeks. You look better.’
‘It’s an optical illusion. I feel worse.’
‘So you’re not up to eating? Maybe if I hold the spoon?’
Kieron sat down, drawing in his breath sharply, but said nothing.
Sixteen
‘Olivia?’
‘In the hall.’
‘You know it’s my turn to do the after-church coffees with Marianne? I don’t suppose you could come and help?’ Greta came down the stairs. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Going for a run. So I can’t, Mum, sorry.’
‘You never can. It wouldn’t hurt you, you can run later.’
‘I’ll help you next time. I’m going now or I’ll get cold before I start.’
She was wearing just her tracksuit and trainers.
‘Are you meeting anyone?’
‘Mia might come. I’m going round by her house anyway. You’d better go, hadn’t you?’
‘Just be careful and try to run where there are other people around, don’t go off into Starly Woods alone. Got your key and your phone?’
Olivia rolled her eyes.