When Abbott stumbled out into the street, he was amazed to see that it was only just mid-afternoon. He moved unsteadily along beside Cuckoo, and without the comforting embrace of the pub, he suddenly felt exposed, aware of the wary looks from passers-by, how he suddenly had so much space on the pavement. Some little bit of him that still fed on self-esteem took hold, and he forced himself upright, taking deep breaths so that by the time they had reached a branch of Costa, grabbed a coffee and sat down, he looked and felt almost human.

Cuckoo had pulled a charging cable and plug from his bag. ‘Phone,’ he said to Abbott.

‘Cheers, mate.’ As he plugged in his poor beleaguered phone to charge, he asked, ‘So, was I right? Was she lying to me?’

‘Yes, she was lying to you. Jason Scutter – the same Jason Scutter found guilty of attempted kidnap regarding your brother and then later imprisoned for that and for possessing child pornography – is alive and well and living in—’

‘Not Matlock. Don’t tell me he’s still living in Matlock.’

‘No, he’s no longer living in Matlock. He moved all the way to Derby. He’s supposed to be living there under a new identity but according to the Home Office, he hasn’t been using the new identity, he’s been living under his old name.’

‘Oh yeah? And why’s that?’

‘Well, the reason that he might not feel the need to hide is because he has links to organised crime in the area. He is, apparently, related to the Doyle crew, who basically run the crime in that part of the world. Did you know that? Is that why you asked me to look into his associates?’

‘Wait a minute. Do you have an address for him?’

‘I don’t,’ said Cuckoo, his eyes flicking.

‘Come on. Don’t hold out on me.’

‘Why do you want his address? You’re going to go after him, aren’t you?’

‘I need to talk to him, yes.’

‘Just talk to him?’

‘There are other people in this, Cuckoo.’

‘Dangerous people by the sound of things.’

‘I think I can handle a few Derby gangsters.’

‘The old Abbott maybe.’

‘The old Abbott is in here, mate.’

‘This is a bit more like it,’ said Cuckoo.

‘Don’t patronise me. Do you have an address or not?’

‘Not until you pull yourself together.’

‘I’ve just told you – that’s what I’m going to do.’

‘Sure, and when you’ve done it, give me a call.’

Abbott rolled his eyes. ‘You’re not going to give me it?’

‘Either way, I don’t know it yet,’ said Cuckoo. And that, surely, was a lie to buy time. ‘It’ll take me a few days.’

‘And don’t tell me, I’ve got to use those few days to dry out.’