Kieran’s eyes bulged outwards and his mouth fell open. He had all the look of someone who was listening to a foreign language. Albert almost felt sorry for him.

‘A reckonin’, Cap’n?’

‘Yes. Vail has made a challenge.’

‘Vail? Tonight? But—’

‘But nothing! Do you even know that Theo has been kidnapped?’

‘Wha—?’ Kieran jerked his head up to look at them, shock on his face. ‘Kid—kidnapped?’

‘Yes, kidnapped! By Codehunters! And we suspect they got the Band to do it for them.’

‘The Band, Cap’n?’

‘Yes, the Band! But you can’t be expected to know that, can you, O’Flanagan? You’re too busy rolling in the mud outside the tavern like a swine!’

Kieran said nothing, wisely, Albert thought. Colby glared at him for a moment or two, and then went on. ‘We’ve wasted enough time. You know the drill, you’ve been in the force long enough. We’re all on alert tonight, effective immediately. You know what’s going to happen next. Get your act together, and soon because the Commander won’t be as nice as me.’

‘Yes, Cap’n. Thanks, Cap’n.’

‘Quiet! We’re not done. In return for this favour I am doing you, O’Flanagan, by giving you a warning you don’t deserve, you will do something for me.’

‘I will, Cap’n?’

‘Yes, you will. So tell me now, O’Flanagan, what are you going to do to make up for this, this timely and gallant rescue from your own dazzling display of incompetence?’

‘I dunno, Cap’n,’ said Kieran, eyes still cast downwards.

‘Talk to those seedy friends of yours that you’re so proud of. There’s something up with the Band, and I want to know what it is, pronto. Report back to me.’

‘Yessir,’ said Kieran. ‘But the thing is, I got this really awful ’eadache, see? So I’ll just take ten minutes an’ sleep off the—’

‘You will do nothing of the sort, O’Flanagan! You will go back inside now, and freshen up, or wash your face, or whatever else a disgusting oaf like you does, and then you will go and ask around. Then you will report back to me.’

‘Yessir.’

‘In full dress uniform, O’Flanagan.’

Kieran looked horrified. ‘Dre—dress uniform, sir?’

‘Yes, O’Flanagan, in full dress uniform. In fact, I want you in full dress uniform from the moment you leave your house.’

‘But, sir! No’ the dress uniform! C’mon!’

‘You heard me, O’Flanagan!’

‘But, sir, I won’t even get any answers! They’ll be too busy laughin’!’

‘All right then,’ said Colby, softening his tone somewhat. ‘But I want to hear something soon from you, and if it’s not soon enough, I’ll make sure you get a headache every time you so much as see the tavern for a long time to come! Is that clear?’

‘Yessir,’ muttered Kieran.