‘Problem?’ Abbott took a sip of tea, set the mug down with a grimace and decided to make it his first and last sip of tea in this particular establishment. Funny, he thought. Time was he would have insisted on meeting in a pub, no matter how dangerous it was.

‘Problem? You could say that,’ exploded McGregor and then remembered to keep his voice down, leaning forward and keeping his voice low. ‘Right now, Doyle thinks you’re something close to the devil. He doesn’t like the fact that you went to see Lady Norton. He doesn’t like that you haven’t turned up back for work to give him the skinny on what went on. He is only just – and I mean only fuckin’ just – buying my story that I know nothing. I tell you, I am this far from having my fingernails pulled out. Cynthia’s in his ear, giving it all that. He’s just getting more and more paranoid.’

‘According to Her Ladyship, Kilgore was going to put him back in his box.’

‘He’s only just in his box and whatever Kilgore’s said to him it’s done nothing to put his mind at rest. He is convinced that forces are lining up against him.’

‘Well then, he’s not so stupid, is he?’ said Abbott ruefully, at which McGregor pulled a face.

‘What are you going to do?’

‘Nothing. We’re going to proceed according to the plan.

Why is he putting children on site? What good are they at Kemptown?’ Abbott thought of the little cleaner girl, but other than that . . .?

‘He’s talking about some kind of human shield.’

‘Jesus.’ Abbott shook his head. ‘And what about The Free-masons? Has that shut down?’

‘Since you wasted Sweaty, you mean? No, I’m afraid not, pal. You remember the barman, the guy with the dreads? He’s in charge now. Mind you, they scaled it down. Some of the kids from there are the ones they brought into Kemptown.’

‘The Polish couple’s kid?’

‘Yeah, he’s there, too.’

Abbott looked across the table at him, eyes blazing. ‘You feel proud of yourself for that, do you?’

McGregor blazed back. ‘Do you? Listen, don’t go getting any wrong ideas. I’m not the avenging angel in this scenario. I’m no angel at all. My heart is black and it’s broken. I’ve thrown my lot in with Juliet Norton because she pays me more and quite frankly, I’d rather be based at a mansion in Richmond than a shithole factory in Derby. That’s it. That really is it. You carry on with your pure motives and if that puts us on the same side then so be it. I’ve seen what you can do, and I’d much rather be with you than against you.’