They did not meet, it was all text messages, very occasionally phone calls, from phones that were used for a month, sometimes less, before being wiped and destroyed. One man would know another, maybe two, but never more. There were levels. Top level were the ones nobody else knew, nobody, not even their names, nobody had ever seen them, the brains and the planners. Below them came the ones only known to those on the level above, by name and contact numbers, then came the one below that and the same again. It was several rungs down to the bottom level, the ones who thought nothing, planned nothing, took orders, worked their own patch, found the kids.

The rules were strict, and nobody flouted them, knowing what the result would be – or rather, not knowing, not exactly, leaving everything to the imagination, and so to fear. Rule one was no photographs, of anyone, ever. Two was that anything written and sent was immediately deleted, three that no numbers were shared. The barrow boys knew their own, and that might be three or four or a dozen, like Fats knew Brookie, Liv and five more, though seven wasn’t enough, he’d been told that twice recently, and he was trying, like the rest of them were. The ones above knew nothing about it, whether it was hard or easy, they just stuck their hands out, sent the packets, took the money., a lot of money, and they wanted more, and though money came back down the chain again, it was in very much smaller amounts.

There were others, connected to one another and with links to the top, but engaged on different business, in knocking on doors, ringing bells, making phone calls, threatening, talking tough, issuing ultimatums. Travelling further. Some met up in twos, to make visits, deliver and collect, like Mace and Fats to the Chinese pharmacist.

Money moved up, down and sideways in various directions, by various methods, which changed frequently, according to what messages were received. Petty cash bought things. Phones. Shiny toys. Fish and chips.

Bribes. Retainers. Blackmail. Dirty money that went from hand to hand just as the packets did. The higher up the level, the more the money. Below, it was split into smaller amounts, moved about between businesses, currency-exchange booths, pawnbrokers, bookies. Five hundred pounds could be deposited in banks and post offices without questions being asked, not more, too risky. Up into the thousands, it was different again, it was cars bought and sold, it was casinos, it was diamonds and gold, and after that, Bitcoin, though only a few of them understood virtual currency and none really trusted it. Cash was best, carried in body belts and hidden compartments, built into luggage that was loaded on planes, ferries, cruise ships. Cash could be easily transferred, then laundered, cash bore no ID.