‘It’s all just vague hints and rumours that “someone” is muscling in on us, but that’s not the way it works.’ He looked at the DI. ‘You know the score. The new boss declares his intention. He steals your deals, messes up your jobs and leans on your personnel. It’s the standard preliminary before the full turf war begins.’

‘And you’ve had none of this?’ asked Joseph.

‘No, Sergeant.’ Archie looked at him carefully. ‘And, as you will appreciate, I have a lot of seriously heavy connections, but no one can give me either a name or a face.’ He shook his head. ‘It is our way to settle our own problems, but this is something I just can’t fix, and I will not risk my niece’s life by sticking to age-old gangland rules.’

‘You know I’ll do whatever it takes to help you, Archie,’ said the DI solemnly.

‘I know. That’s why I came to you. But Nikki …’ he stared at her intently, ‘… no press yet. Whatever you do, you’ll keep it low key, won’t you?’

Joseph watched as his boss took a long intake of breath. ‘As I said, I’ll do what I have to, in the best way that I can. The bottom line is that we get Lisa Jane back.’ She stared at Archie for a time then said, ‘Can you tell us anything about something called Mask Wars?’

‘Ah, those damn kids! But that can’t have any bearing on my girl going missing, can it?’

‘Probably not, but it’s costing us time and manpower, and that takes us away from much more important issues, if you see what I mean?’ Her eyes never left those of the older man.

He nodded shrewdly. ‘I’ll do what I can, but those idiots in the masks listen to no one, not even me. They are just brainless waste-of-space kids.’ His brow drew together into deep wrinkles. ‘The baseline is that one gang has them, the other doesn’t. They are a prize that they fight over. Simple and stupid as that.’

‘So where do the masks come from, Archie?’

He threw up his hands. ‘No idea, and I’ve had more pressing things on my mind to care.’

The DI smiled. ‘I know. Same here. But I need to put an end to it before someone else gets stabbed, or dies.’

‘I suppose you do.’ Archie Leonard stood up. ‘Now I have to go. No one knows I came to see you, but I’ll see what I can find out about your masks.’ He gave her a weak smile. ‘Nikki? Find my girl? Please.’

The DI gave him her card. ‘Private mobile number. Any time, day or night. Trust me, and take care, Archie.’