Joseph gave her a disparaging look at the blasphemy, and once again her original anger at him welled up. ‘Get real! Sergeant Joe! You’ve just been talking to a cold-blooded, heartless psycho! Do you honestly think she was telling you the truth? Are you really that gullible? Because if you are I don’t think I want you on my team.’

Joseph clamped his jaw tightly, but said nothing in his defence.

The pressure in her head was building, and without premeditation, she grabbed at her desk lamp, picked it up and flung it against the wall.

The crash echoed around the small office, and shards of glass scattered across the floor. Then everything went quiet, and the crushing force inside her head slowly abated.

She looked across at Joseph, who was still standing immobile and silent by the door, and said, ‘I’m so sorry. That was unforgivable.’

‘Smart move, actually. It’s what they teach you in anger management.’

‘What the hell do you know about anger management?’ she whispered, still trying to understand why that dreadful, evil woman could evoke such violent reactions in her.

‘Plenty. I’ve screamed into more pillows, and smashed more plant pots than you’ve had hot dinners, but that’s another story.’ He looked at the pile of mangled cheap metal and glass in the corner. ‘Hope that wasn’t one of your favourites?’

Nikki looked at it and shook her head. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever even noticed it, until I picked it up.’ She sat down heavily in her chair. ‘And when I said “that was unforgivable”, I was referring to what I said to you, and I apologize.’ She looked up at him. ‘What on earth are we going to do? The ship is arriving in under two hours, and now this! What should we do?’

‘At the risk of endangering more electric light fittings,’ Joseph raised his hands in the absence of a white flag and said, ‘I have to say that I would meet with Doyle, even if just to see what the hell she’s on about.’

Nikki took a deep breath. ‘And I suggest that this is just another ploy to keep us occupied, to keep us away from the docks.’

‘And if that is the case, the gang would be even more complacent if we did turn up. They would believe we knew nothing about the consignment.’ He turned his head a little, then looked at her sideways. ‘And what if, just possibly, Doyle is out of her depth? You told me once that she was evil but she wasn’t clever. What if she has pissed off the wrong people. We know what they are capable of. Look at Marcus and Mickey.’

‘We should go to the docks. This could be the biggest thing you’ve ever been involved in.’