Those who had been forced into sham marriages had done so with minimum fuss, with the applications to the Home Office apparently going in via the solicitor. They were all unhappy about how little they were paid and the fact that Mira had retained their passports but were too scared to protest.

Tom’s team were delighted with his progress: all the covert recordings and forged documents had the Brankos bang to rights. They also had surveillance of the brothel as well as phone call and cell site information that plotted all the Brankos’ movements from Sarajevo to London. It would be a watertight case against them, even if the three trafficking victims didn’t want to give evidence. What they didn’t have yet was the final piece to nail the corrupt solicitor, Michael Adebayo.

They did have good supporting evidence that he was handling bogus applications, but not enough to prove that he was knowingly subverting immigration rules. Tom had been kept away from the lawyer, with the Brankos frustratingly not even having talked about him in Tom’s presence. They needed more: Tom needed to get into the office and get something recorded to show that Adebayo had knowledge of the sham nature of the marriages.

Tom’s phone buzzed next to him as he pondered the problem. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was from Aleks and groaned inwardly as he answered it. ‘Aleks, man, how goes?’

‘We are out of the country for a while on some business and will be away for about four days or so. Mama may need a little help with a few things, so can you be available if she needs you? The girls at the Hackney place are going home; I think we’ve worn them out and we want them out of the way.’

‘Sure thing.’ Conscious that every word was being recorded on an app installed on his phone, he added, ‘What about the girls’ husbands?’

Aleks laughed coarsely. ‘Who gives a fuck about them? Their applications are in, if they don’t get granted, we’ve already been paid. What they gonna do? Go to the police?’

Tom laughed along. ‘No problem, Aleks. I’m about if your Mama needs anything. Tell Luka I was gonna kick his butt on the mat this week as well.’ More laughter as Aleks rang off.

Tom was thankful they were going to be away, as it gave him a break from their bullshit. Mira had never called him before, so he reckoned he could have a few quiet days. He decided to go for a run; he was full of energy and wouldn’t be able to sleep later if he didn’t burn some of it off.

He quickly changed into his running gear and set off along the Kentish Town streets, heading towards Hampstead and the Heath.