‘People are allowed to be fastidious in their habits, Cat. And you do know that we can’t arrest them for overkill on the magnolia paint, don’t you?’

‘Mm, pity. But I’m dead certain there’s dirt of a different kind in Rydell Street.’ She grinned mischievously. ‘And I can’t wait to dig it up!’

‘Just be careful,’ Nikki threw at her as she made to leave. ‘We seem to know very little about anything or anybody.’

‘I will, ma’am.’ Cat’s smile was replaced by a more serious expression. ‘These masks are beginning to freak even me out. A group of young thugs, all wearing the damned things, jumped out in front of my car when I was going home last night. I nearly crashed the bloody thing!’

‘The day we get those friggin’ things off the streets, I’ll stand a round for the entire station.’

‘Could we have that in writing, Guv?’

‘Just bugger off, and be careful.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

NIKKI SPENT OVER an hour in the superintendent’s office bringing him up to speed on the occurrences of the night before, but all the time they spoke her mind kept returning to Kerry Anderson and Mickey Smith. Finding Kerry was paramount, but keeping the boy from further harm was also vital. She didn’t know how or why, but her gut was telling her there was a link between them. She had nothing concrete, but she was certain that Mickey Smith was the one person who could not only help them solve the riddle of the masks but lead her to Frankie Doyle.

The superintendent had wanted to go over everything in detail, and Nikki finally used the excuse of expecting an urgent phone call to get herself free. She then hurried down the corridor to her own office, closed the door and rang Joseph.

‘He’s safe,’ said her sergeant, with considerable relief. ‘Transfer went off like a charm, ma’am. Have you managed to read my report?’

‘Who needs intelligence when you’ve got the Carborough Kid?’

‘Oh, he can talk for England! My ears ache! But it was worth taking the time to sort the wheat from the chaff, wasn’t it?’

‘Certainly was. I’ll be calling in on him myself later, when he’s had chance to settle in.’

‘Why not wait until I’ve grabbed a few hours shuteye, and I’ll come back with you. That boy is an acquired taste.’

Nikki’s hackles rose. ‘Meaning?’

‘Meaning only that you asked me what I thought about a Victim Support Officer, and I’d definitely say send a male. I’ve seen him with some of the nurses, and he does not respond well to women.’

Nikki festered quietly for a moment. She had been hoping to follow the Frankie Doyle route privately, but the last thing she wanted to do was upset their main source of information.