Nikki smothered her excitement. She did know about Kerry! Which meant a slender chance of finding her. ‘Ah, so she was someone else who pissed you off, I suppose. Let me guess? Kerry was bright, intelligent and was making something of herself, even if she came from the Carborough?’

‘Stuck-up cow.’ muttered Doyle. ‘She had it coming. Just like the Leonard bitch. All fucking airs and graces, the pair of them.’

Nikki felt nauseated, and prayed that Archie was not listening outside the door. Somehow she fought back the rising bile, and knew that she had to keep on probing. Because she desperately needed to find Kerry.

‘Did Cox kill her, like he did Lisa Jane? I know you were there when he did it to Lisa Jane. You spat on her, didn’t you?’

Doyle began to struggle again. ‘I don’t want to talk about her any more, not with him, not with Archie, around.’

Nikki walked around until she was behind Doyle, then whispered. ‘As I see it, this could go one of two ways. I give you to Archie, and tell him all about what you and Stephen did to Lisa Jane, or you tell me where I can find Kerry Anderson, then I arrest you for attempted murder, and a whole load of other stuff, but then I get you out of here.’ She gave a small laugh. ‘Deal, or no deal? And I know which I’d choose.’

Initially Doyle said nothing, although Nikki was pretty sure that she understood the wisdom in her words. Then the woman found some sort of misguided bravado from somewhere and hissed, ‘Stinking pig! Find her yourself!’

Anger coursed through Nikki’s gut.

Suddenly she was tired of all this. Why was she even lowering herself to try to reason with this bag of shit!

Nikki stared at her.

Doyle was callous, lacking in all social graces, and seemed completely indifferent to other people’s suffering. And if crossed, even if unintentionally, she was lethal. Better to walk away and leave her to the Leonard family to dispose of. The world would certainly be a safer place.

Do it by the book! Promise me! Joseph’s voice rang through her mind like a clarion call.

Still staring at the woman, Nikki flopped back against the wall. But they were never going to find Kerry in time to save her, so what did it really matter? She should call for Archie.

‘What are you thinking, pig? I don’t like the look on your face.’