‘But if he’s underboss, then who’s the boss?’ said Colby.

Joe shrugged.

‘You wanna hear me out?’ said Rat. ‘So yeah, ’e gives that lil’ speech, an’ then ’e’s like let’s go boys, we got what we came for, Cillian’ll be proud o’ us for a good day’s work well done an’—’

But Albert missed the rest of what he said, realization hitting him with all the force of a kick to the solar plexus. Cillian! That was the name shouted by the squeaky-voiced man who’d led the attack on them in the tunnels, the same name that had caused Father and Ucho to react so strangely afterwards. He looked up, and Colby, face alight with worry, was still talking, though he sounded much the same as usual.

‘—given us something to go on for the moment, but I’ll be waiting to hear back from you. And keep your eyes and ears open for news of the girl.’

‘Aye,’ said the boy.

‘And if it’s worth it, maybe you’ll get something for your trouble, too.’

‘Aye,’ said Rat, much more brightly.

They filed out, walking out of the tent. The moment they got out Albert turned to Colby. ‘Come on, Colby! Let’s go!’

‘There’s no point, Albert.’

‘No—You heard what he said! She’s in the tunnels! And that name—Cillian! You remember it? That was the name of the guy who sent the Renegades last time! And now he has her! We have to tell Father and Ucho immediately!’

‘Remember what I told you,’ said Colby. ‘You won’t get near either of them, not till the reckoning’s done.’

‘But it’s this Cillian guy! We have to tell Father to tell them to send men after her!’

‘Yes, Albert, but where?’

‘Where? Into the tunnels—where else?’

Colby was shaking his head. His face was drawn and serious. ‘And that’s the clincher. This is bad, Albert. I don’t think you understand quite how bad. If they have taken her into the tunnels, it’s anyone’s guess as to where they are.’ His grey eyes flickered unhappily. ‘I’m sorry.’

Albert looked steadily at him, feeling a familiar white-hot rage beginning to burn at the pit of his stomach, the same kind of rage he had felt in the lot, the day he had met Theo. ‘Don’t be. We’re going to find her.’

‘Find her? How?’

‘By searching the tunnels.’

‘Searching the—are you mad? To begin with, there’s no—and anyway, you’ve seen those tunnels! And that’s not even the tip of the iceberg, believe me, not even the tip! They’re a maze, stretching for hundreds of miles, every which way, including straight down. We could look for months and never find her in there!’