He looked at them some more. Then he nodded, although they could all see the resentment shining in his eyes. ‘Whaddya wanna know?’

‘First up,’ said Colby, ‘tell us who the new guy behind your lot is.’

Rat shook his head. ‘Dunno. ’E’s there an’ ’e’s for real, but that’s all we know. Only the guys at the top know, an’ even most o’ ’em dunno.’

‘Well, now yer gonna havta do better than that, Rat.’

‘I’m telling yer, I dunno!’

‘All right. Tell Gran. I’m goin’ ta get her.’

‘Wait, come back! Oi! Come back! Judas! ’Is name’s Judas, OK! That’s all I know!’

‘Who’s this Judas?’

‘’E’s the guy you want. The big wheel. ’E’s the one who’s tellin’ everyone what ter do.’

‘Everyone, as in, everyone in the Band?’ asked Colby.

Rat nodded.

‘So he’s the new backer then?’

Rat nodded again.

‘All right. Who is he?’

Rat looked at him. ‘You deaf? I jus’ tol’ yer, nobody knows! ’E don’t meet anyone, ever!’

‘And why is that?’

‘How should I know? Mebbe ’e’s got pimples!’

‘You’re going to find out for us, all right? No taking any risks, but you’re going to find out.’

‘No!’

‘Remember your Gran?’

‘I’ll find out.’

‘Now, next, what can you tell us about the little girl’s kidnapping?’

‘Nothin’.’

‘Look, we know she was taken by some of your boys. Who was it?’

‘Dunno.’

‘Kieran?’

‘I’ll get Gran.’

‘Wait, hold on! Hold on! Yer can’t jus’ keep getting’ Gran fer everythin’!’

‘Sure I can, Rat. Watch me!’

‘Well, lad?’

‘Look, I dunno—’

‘I’m goin’.’

‘Much! Much! I said I dunno much!’ He was red in the face with eagerness to get the words out, at the moment he would have not only sung on, but gladly composed, conducted and danced on his bros too.

‘All right, listen then.’

They looked at him.

‘See, I dunno bout who took the girl or anythin’ but I do know that she was taken, an’ lost.’

‘Lost? What do you mean, lost?’

‘Well, that’s what I heard. Seems that the new guy, yer know, Judas, he wanted her—’

‘Why?’

‘How should I know? Point is, so they were takin’ her to the place they was supposed to hand her over, but they got jumped in the tunnels an’ they took ’er. Shot one guy, too. Through the knee.’

‘What?

‘Yeah.’

Albert felt a mixed wave of confusion and worry wash over him. What was going on? Just as they might be making some headway, another twist in the tale!

‘Let me get this straight,’ he said. ‘She was kidnapped from the kidnappers?’

‘Um … yeah.’

‘Who took her?’ said Colby

‘Them guys. Renegades.’

‘Renegades?’

‘Aye. Dunno where they came from. But they was waitin’ there. Roughed ’em up good, too.’

‘So who has her now?’