‘He’s a charmer, isn’t he?’ She was shaking her head in disbelief. ‘He said it doesn’t surprise him that someone intended to torch the newsagent’s, and says – and I quote, he “wishes they had because it’s completely redundant and his brother would still be alive”.’

‘Twat,’ Dan muttered.

‘He said if he’d wanted to target Rosa’s shop, he’d have made damn sure he got the right one.’ Jackie groaned.

‘Thing is, that’s potentially a clever bluff because it’s hard to argue with.’ I gathered my thoughts. ‘For anyone who’s interested, there’s still no sign of Ali.’ I tried not to give Dan a dirty look. ‘I’ve been out searching whenever I’ve had a spare moment.’ I checked the team’s faces, remembering Dan’s comments. ‘Please ask your contacts to keep an eye out for him. We’ve got to find him. He may have crucial information. He’s a minor and he’s vulnerable, and we don’t have the resources to launch a manhunt for him . . . ’

‘You know why that is.’ The comment was Dan’s, but his tone of voice had softened from when we’d argued. ‘It upsets me just as much as you, Maya, but he’s an illegal. Where the law’s concerned, he doesn’t count, and funding follows the law.’

I didn’t want to argue in front of the team again.

Dan was on his feet, ready to update the suspect list on the board. ‘Who are we looking at then? Kenny and Artem?’

I nodded, pleased he’d moved on.

‘Who should we put at the top of the list?’ Dan asked.

‘Kenny,’ came a loud chorus, and amongst the noise we missed the first few beeps from Alexej’s laptop. Then the alerts got louder, and his phone started to ping.

‘Hold up.’ Alexej snatched his phone up and checked his notifications. ‘Someone’s posted on LfA.’ He wiggled his mouse. After a few clicks, his monitor displayed the forum. ‘It’s Frazer.’

‘Oh, shit. What is it?’ A knot of dread tightened in my stomach.

We all clustered round Alexej’s desk and craned our necks to see.

Whatever he’d posted, it wasn’t going to be good news.

Maya, 9 a.m.

Maya, 9 a.m.

Alexej clicked on the forum post. ‘It’s another flash mob. What if that means another arson?’

FLASH MOB – this afternoon, E1

Make your voice heard at St Katherine’s Dock.

Are the two marinas successful urban developments or

gentrification? Who needs yachts, restaurants and luxury

flats when we have a crisis in affordable housing?

Sign up here and check your mob/email

Exact time and venue TBA.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled.

‘Quick, Alexej,’ I said. ‘Sign up for it so we can get the time and location. We’ll need to get a few officers over there.’