‘Keira identified Ormond as part of a network that supplied underage girls to older men. It was part of Tombday, do you remember? They took girls to parties, got them stoned or drunk, and raped them. Keira was part of that for a while, until Sharon put a stop to it. Keira recognised Ormond on TV and found this solicitor online. She never told Sharon what she was doing.’

‘Jesus. And you reckon Ormond found out?’

‘And had her taken out. But to make it look like a spate of gang attacks, he ordered a second, random hit.’

‘But they fucked up.’

They walked towards Wordsworth Towers. Ordinarily, she would call something like this in; her whole team would be in position, ready to follow the same trajectory as the boss. It wasn’t so now. She still didn’t know whose side Will was on, or Liam Brook. Her head screamed that Will had been doing Ormond’s dirty work all along, but her heart wouldn’t allow it. For Will to be a party to this made a mockery of everything she’d ever thought or felt about him. She couldn’t deal with that now.

‘We need to get Jackson and Tyrone somewhere safe,’ she said.

Rob agreed. ‘I’m with you, boss.’

They approached Jackson’s floor and made their way along the balcony. Kelly knocked on the door and spoke quietly.

‘Jackson, it’s Kelly Porter.’

The door opened. Part of her was surprised to see him; the other part was fearful that he’d double-crossed her. He always seemed to be where he should be.

‘Are you alone?’

‘Yeah. I was just about to leave.’

‘Where are you going? Were you hoping to run away?’

Jackson stood back and let them in. He looked guilty, and Kelly knew she was correct.

He nodded. ‘I expected you’d turn up here, so I left a present for you in the living room.’ They followed him in.

‘A present?’

They went into the room and saw boxes and bags on the floor.

‘Evidence I’ve looked after for the Cotton brothers. It’s all yours; I’m out of here.’

Rob blocked his way.

‘Jackson. I need your help. I’m on my own here. Rob has my back, but my boss – the guy behind all this – wants me out of the way. I’m putting everything on the line too.’

‘You’ve already had my help. If it wasn’t for me, you’d never have known what happened.’

‘I know, and that’s why you have to stay. Run away now and you’ll be caught. Or what’s the alternative? A life on the run? It would kill you. Don’t change your mind now.’

‘She’s right,’ Rob said.