He moved on, creating a third sign directly behind Hawkins, out of sight, and a fourth on the wall to her left. He finished and turned back, apparently checking on her. She stared at the last symbol, again unable to decipher its meaning:

‘It’s Lucifer’s Sigil,’ White explained, watching her.

Hawkins felt her eyes narrow. ‘This is about Devil worship?’

‘Absolutely not.’ His reply conveyed irritation. ‘These are just calling cards, to summon the assistance I need.’

‘Assistance?’ she echoed. ‘For what?’

White didn’t respond. Instead he walked over to crouch beside Mike. He held the DI’s chin and turned his face towards him.

Mike groaned.

‘Can you hear me?’ White gently shook his captive’s head.

When there was no further response, he looked at Hawkins. ‘What’s his name?’

She didn’t answer.

‘Understandable, I suppose.’ White began searching Mike’s coat, quickly locating his wallet and opening it. He found what he was looking for, dropped the wallet and leaned over his victim. ‘Michael, I need you to wake up.’

For a moment there was no reaction, but then Mike’s eyes must have opened, because White bent closer. ‘Make a noise if you understand me.’

They waited.

Hawkins held her breath, desperate to know that Mike wasn’t seriously hurt, but also not wanting him to comply with their captor’s wishes. Plus, if he didn’t answer soon, perhaps White would switch his attention to her.

She interjected, ‘What do you want with us?’

‘With you? Ideally nothing.’ He turned back to Mike. ‘Fortunately, your partner is more suitable, if a little old.’

Hawkins was about to ask what he meant when Mike stirred.

‘Toni?’ He began looking around, pain evident in his voice. ‘What the hell happened?’

She opened her mouth, but White cut her off. ‘DI Maguire. How do you feel?’

‘Like shit.’ He tried to sit up. ‘Who are you?’

White put a hand on his chest, held him down. ‘Don’t try to move.’

‘What?’ Mike resisted, glancing at Hawkins. ‘Toni, you OK?’

‘Just about,’ she said. ‘Meet Joseph White: the killer.’

‘For real?’ Mike jerked, knocking White backwards as he began testing his bonds.

‘Don’t!’ She watched White’s fists clench, expecting retaliation.

Instead, the founder stood, leaving Maguire to thrash, and calmly walked to his bag, taking out a cloth and a bottle. He unscrewed the top and applied some of the contents to the fabric as he returned.

‘Mike!’ Hawkins blurted, now fighting her own restraints, making her shoulder muscles scream.

White ignored her, crouching behind Mike’s head, coolly smothering him with the cloth.

Maguire bucked again, managing to unseat the rag long enough to gasp her name. ‘Toni!’

His attacker growled, ramming the material back into place. Mike made a muffled sound of alarm and struggled harder, but within moments he succumbed.