‘Help me!’ she shouted as Aaron arrived, adding his weight to hers in holding back the increasingly desperate pressure. She felt herself tiring fast as the blows continued, but she held on.

At last there were sirens.

The kicking stopped, and there were shouts from inside as strobing blue lights appeared in the mist outside the perimeter walls. Seconds later two meat wagons and a police car burst into the car park, each spilling uniforms as it slewed to a halt. The newly arrived officers split into parties. Most entered through the front of the building, but two ran towards her and Aaron. She moved away from the door, gave brief instructions on what they would find inside, and watched them go in.

‘With me,’ she said as soon as they’d gone, leading Aaron back to the front of the structure. They emerged from the darkness into a flickering mass of blue LEDs, through which pairs of uniformed officers were already escorting hooded figures across the car park to the waiting vehicles.

‘Find Mardell,’ Hawkins instructed, pointing Aaron towards the vans before going back into the building. She passed two female officers escorting the girl, now wrapped in a blanket, towards one of the cars. The young woman seemed dazed and confused, staring at the ground ahead of her. Still in shock.

Inside, the remaining members of Millennial Dawn were being cuffed and led away, while two officers with torches checked the corners no longer lit by the dying fire. Further beams were visible outside the unit, as the team checked for anyone that might have managed to slip free in the confusion.

Hawkins stopped the last two cloaked figures as they approached the exit, but neither was Mardell. She made one final scan of the place, confident now that the building was clear, and returned to the car park, confirming with the coordinating officer that the outside area had also been checked.

She turned back towards the police vans, seeking her sergeant among the mass of people, lights and vehicles. He emerged seconds later from the farthest wagon and caught her eye from across the car park, his expression and a small shake of his head telling Hawkins everything she needed to know.

Mardell wasn’t there.

46

‘You ram-raided the place?’

‘Yes, sir,’ Hawkins began, ‘but—’

The chief superintendent cut her off. ‘With a Vauxhall Astra?’

‘It was the only vehicle we had access to at the time.’ She glanced over at Aaron and Amala, who stood next to her in front of his desk. ‘And these two were just following orders. I came up with the strategy.’

‘Well, that’s very noble of you.’ He held her gaze. ‘Do you know how many safety directives you contravened?’

At least five.

‘The main doors weren’t secured, and everyone inside was well clear,’ she protested. ‘No one was injured, and I believe damage to the Astra was minimal.’