Nikki nodded. Yes, she did need to know. But what would she do then? Doubts clouded her usual confident, no-nonsense belief that Frankie was responsible for her daughter’s terrible state. What if she’d got it wrong? Most of her information had come via a villain. Maybe Archie wasn’t the friend that she thought he was. Nikki stared around at the boarded-up offices and partly dismantled buildings. Maybe today was the day that she would find out.

Joseph was edging forward, glancing this way and that. Nikki looked at him and tensed. He had suddenly switched to a more heightened state of awareness.

‘Something moved.’ He swung towards a stack of planks of wood, piled high and waiting for collection by the demolition company. ‘Someone’s there.’

For a second, Nikki was glad that she had told Dave Harris what was happening at the cattle market. Not the full details, just a sighting of Doyle that she and Sergeant Easter considered worth following up. Because right now Nikki was a bubbling cocktail of anger and anticipation, with a splash of fear thrown in for colour. ‘Can you see her?’

‘Someone’s behind those woodpiles.’ Joseph inched forward. ‘I don’t know if it’s her or not, but I’m going to check it out.’

He moved forward again, with Nikki close behind. They passed a deserted shell of a wooden office, and began to circle the stack of old timber.

‘Frankie sends her apologies.’ The voice was low and slightly muffled, but its intent was crystal clear. ‘She got tied up at the last minute, Inspector Galena.’

Nikki turned slowly, to see a stocky, broad-shouldered man standing beside the debris of the old office, and the reason for his distorted speech, was the dead rat mask that covered his features. ‘Neither of you even think about making a move! I’m not alone.’ He gave a short, husky laugh. ‘Let me introduce my friends. This is someone you’ve been looking for recently.’ He gestured to a taller, skinnier man who had just immerged from the back of the office to stand unmoving in the shadows. ‘Say hello to Fluke.’

The masked man gave a small stiff-backed bow, and passed a heavy iron bar slowly from one hand to the other.

Nikki felt, rather than saw, Joseph stiffen in the presence of the man who had killed Marcus Lee and tried to beat Mickey Smith to death.

‘It would be polite to take off those masks! You filthy cowards!’ growled Joseph.

‘All in good time. But what right do you have to shout the orders. You weren’t even invited to this party, Sergeant Easter!’