Ahead of them was an open expanse of concrete, unofficially used for parking, but right now there were no cars, just youths. Two gangs, squaring up to each other like warring tribes, all ugly faces and aggressive posturing. There was little difference between them when it came to age and attitude, the only thing that separated them was that one gang were wearing masks.

Niall was already on the radio when the taunting stopped and the fists came out.

‘Tell them we need back-up!’ shouted Yvonne, as she prepared to jump out of the car. ‘Meanwhile, I’ll do what I can.’

‘No!’ Niall’s voice blasted in her ear. ‘Not this time, Vonnie. I’m all for getting stuck in, but look at them! Someone’s going to get badly hurt out there, and I’d prefer it not to be us.’

‘We’ve got to try.’ Yvonne opened the car door. ‘For exactly the reason that you just said. Someone’s going to get hurt, and we have to try to prevent that happening.’

‘Oh shit! Next time I volunteer us for overtime, remind me of this, will you?’ Niall swung open his door to follow her. ‘At least you’ve got a voice that could be heard the other side of the Humber Bridge.’

Together they waded in and began pulling some of the less committed thugs from the pack, and by the time two more police cars arrived they were left with a heated core of some ten kids. Vicious kids who had the red mist in front of their eyes, and were giving up for no one.

‘Leave ’em to the cavalry!’ called out Niall, as he yanked a stick-thin youth from the back of another. ‘We’ve done our bit, and it looks like half the station has turned out to mop up.’

‘Yeah,’ gasped Yvonne, as she propelled another youngster towards the car. ‘You could be right!’ Cars and vans were pouring into the estate, and the teenage rioters were now running in every direction to get away. ‘Blimey! Even Old Nick and Holy Joe have made an appearance. What the devil did you say was going down here?’

Niall grinned. ‘Mm, it seems I may have overreacted somewhat.’ He pulled the skinny youth towards him. ‘What’s this all about? Don’t tell me you’re actually fighting over those damn masks?’

‘Sod off! It ain’t nothing to do with me. Got caught up in it accidental-like.’ The boy wiped a dirty sleeve across his bloodstained lip.

‘Really?’ said Niall. ‘And I thought it was you that jumped on that other ugly little kid over there!’ He looked across at Yvonne. ‘Well, how wrong could I be? I could have sworn that I saw this poor innocent lad smack the other one with a knuckleduster!’

‘What, the knuckleduster he just slipped into his jeans?’