‘Dunno. Nobody knows. But I got my guess lined up.’

‘Which is?’

‘Well, for a few weeks, word in the hood’s been that the big man’s been mighty interested in that little girl.’

Albert frowned.

‘Big man? You mean Father?’

Rat looked at him scornfully. ‘I din’ say old man, I said big man! Only one big man around here. Vail.’

Vail! Again!

‘What? Why?’

‘I dunno. But I know there’s been a reward out for info on her, so mebbe there’s somethin’ there.’

‘You’re saying Vail took her?’

‘I aint sayin’. I’m guessin’.’

‘But why?’

‘Dunno.’

‘Hold on,’ said Colby, his face bright with excitement. ‘Are you telling me Vail is Judas?’

‘I ain’t tellin’ yer nothin’. An’ no, it ain’t him. He just wants info, far as I know. But since yer asked, thought I’d tell yer.’

‘So it’s not him. You certain?’

‘Aye,’ said Rat. ‘It ain’t him, that much I can tell yer. But he’s in it somehow. This whole girl thing. But I dunno how. I can ask around, though.’

Albert looked around, suddenly flushed with excitement. ‘Don’t you see what this means? She might be at his house!’

‘No,’ said Colby. ‘They’re searching the whole valley, remember? Although that’s on the back-burner for the moment, I’ll bet. And even if he does have her, you can be sure that he won’t have her here.’

‘Thass right,’ said Rat. ‘’Cos them guys who took her took her into the tunnels, not out.’

Into the tunnels! Albert looked around at them, mind whirling. Theo, taken into the tunnels? What was going on?

Colby looked at Rat, and his face was dark. Something was very wrong. ‘Took her into the tunnels? You didn’t mention that before! What are you hiding?’

‘Nothin’! Nothin’ at all! Unless …’

Rat looked up slyly. ‘So, tell me this, if I give yer somethin’ that yer guys, yer know, the force, wanna know, whaddya think it’ll be worth? ’Cos this might be big fer yer, y’know, Cap’n? Might get you a promotion.’

‘Yer getting on me nerves now, Rat!’

‘Well mebbe what I’ll tell yer will get on yer nerves a lil’ more, Kier. ’Cos then yer’ll know that precious force of yourn ain’t quite as white as yer think!’

‘What do you mean?’ demanded Colby.

‘So, what’s it worth me, Cap’n?’

‘It’s worth saving you a trip to your grandmother for starters, which is exactly where you’re headed if you don’t tell me what you’re hinting at right now. Not to mention I’ll stop holding Kieran back.’

Rat looked sulkily up at him.

Colby stared back at him, and then made an exasperated sound and reached in his pocket and pulled out a small stone. ‘Here. It’s all you’ll get so fess up now, and soon.’