‘What is this place?’ Stuart said as they walked up the stairs.

‘This is a place that doesn’t exist. It’s a place you’ve never been to, where you will meet people you have never met.’ Sebastian Forbes stopped at the top of the stairs and looked back at Stuart, two steps behind. ‘Do you understand what I’m saying?’

‘Sure. I never came here.’ Stuart had experience with the criminal underworld; he’d forgotten plenty of places before this one.

The large sunny room at the front of the building screamed money despite the subtle décor. Leather chairs in groups of two or three were set around wooden tables and, at the far end of the room, a black glass bar ran the length of the wall. A man in a red bow tie and white shirt stood behind it, mixing a drink in a cut-glass tumbler. In front of the bar, three men and two women stopped talking and looked Stuart’s way.

‘May I introduce Mr Stuart Lord,’ said Sebastian Forbes, taking the drink from the barman.

Stuart shook their hands. Each said, ‘Welcome, welcome,’ but they didn’t give their names.

The younger woman handed Stuart a cold glass of lager. ‘Your tipple of choice, I believe?’ He took the glass, and she said, ‘You are not yet one of us, Mr Lord, but you have shown great potential, a certain degree of class in your manner of operation.’

For a brief moment, Stuart felt stupid. He had been so engrossed in his new life and the pure, unadulterated pleasure he’d been taking from each and every challenge that he hadn’t thought to consider why he’d been invited to play the game. He raised himself to his full six foot two and squared his shoulders. It was a recruitment drive. Of course it was. And this was the final interview.

31

It was nearly midnight. Bloom knocked at the door.

‘Jane’s missing,’ said Jameson, pulling it open.

‘I know,’ said Bloom, stepping into Claire’s hallway. ‘Since when?’

‘She left school at lunchtime to go to the sandwich shop, but never came back. They thought she’d gone home and the stupid teachers didn’t check because they knew she was having a tough time.’

‘She left school alone?’

‘Apparently. Dan and I are about to head out, search the streets. Claire’s called all her friends, but we’ll knock on some doors anyway. We’ve tried the hospitals.’

‘You’ve told the police?’

‘Claire rang them, but they’re saying it’s only been a few hours and most teenagers come back.’

‘Did Claire tell them about Lana?’

‘Yeah, but Claire doesn’t know everything, does she?’

‘OK. You go. I’ll call Barker and then stay with Claire.’

‘Thank you.’

Bloom pulled out her phone and called Steve Barker. She’d be waking him up, but this was urgent.

‘Hello?’ he said groggily.