The central console came alive, displaying a list of options. Michael quickly accessed his address book and found the entry he was seeking.

Joe Dempsey.

Michael tapped the name and waited.

The connection was not instant. Partly because Michael was in the middle of nowhere and partly because it was a long-distance call. Michael rarely knew where he would find his friend, but he knew it would not be nearby. Dempsey was based in New York, but right now he could be could be anywhere in the world.

Finally the ringtone began to chime in his ear. An intermittent single tone. Confirmation that Dempsey was overseas.

Shit. Come on, Joe. Answer the phone, Michael pleaded silently as the phone continued to ring: four, five, six, he counted.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Michael caught his breath as the seventh tone was interrupted. Unsure if it would be a person or a voicemail.

‘Mike?’ Joe Dempsey’s voice sounded concerned. He would have noted the UK time, Michael knew. ‘What’s happened? Are you OK?’

‘Joe, I need your help.’ Michael tried to keep his voice calm. To keep it steady. It was no easy task. ‘I’m in trouble.’

‘Where are you?’

‘I’ll get to that. First I need you to do something for me.’

‘What, Mike?’

‘I need you to promise that if anything happens to me, you’ll take care of Sarah and Anne. You’ll protect them.’

Michael could not disguise the shaking in his voice.

‘What the hell are you talking about? What’s going on?’

‘Promise me, Joe. Please.’

‘You know you don’t have to ask that. They’re family. You all are.’ The concern in Dempsey’s voice was undisguised. ‘Now you tell me what the hell’s going on so I can help you.’

‘You can’t help with this one, Joe. I’ve got to do it alone.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Dempsey did not sound impressed. ‘Do what alone?’

Michael took a deep breath.

‘There’s a guy. A guy I defended a long, long time ago. Karl Hirst, he’s called. He’s been released and now he’s come for me. He’s come for everyone in his case.’

‘What do you mean he’s come for you? Come for you how?’

‘He’s killing people. He’s killed the judge from the case. The cop. And Derek. He killed Derek.’

‘You mean the big guy? Your barrister friend?’

‘Yeah,’ said Michael, unsurprised that Dempsey had placed Derek so swiftly. ‘The bastard killed him. Crucified him.’

‘Crucified? Like the judge that was killed. The one in the news? Longman, wasn’t it? He was the judge from your trial?’

‘Yeah. Hirst got to him too. And to the cop who brought him in.’

Dempsey hesitated again, but when he spoke his reaction was unemotional. Professional. Exactly as Michael would expect.

‘What about the police?’ Dempsey finally asked. ‘What have they done?’

‘Everything they can,’ Michael replied. ‘And they’ve got Sarah and Anne in protective custody. But he’s still coming. And now he’s got two people – two women – and he’s going to kill them if I don’t meet him tonight. Alone.’