‘My father warned me about women like you,’ he said, as he handed her a five-pound note.

‘I adore your father,’ said Beth.

• • •

The commander took his place at the top of the table, pleased to see that every member of the team was present. He looked to his right and said, ‘So now he knows that we know.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said William. ‘Which means we don’t have a lot of time to come up with a plan if we’re going to trap him before he disappears again.’

‘We?’ said The Hawk.

‘Ross has agreed to postpone his departure for a month, to make sure Faulkner doesn’t get away a third time.’

‘Is there nothing you won’t do to go undercover again, DI Hogan?’ asked The Hawk, switching his attention to the other side of the table.

‘It would seem not,’ said William, before Ross could reply. ‘The Spanish police couldn’t have been more cooperative. However, Lieutenant Sanchez thinks it would help if you had a word with your opposite number in Barcelona.’

‘I’ll call him later this morning,’ said The Hawk. ‘Just be sure to keep me fully informed on what you two are up to, and I mean fully.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said William, well aware that wouldn’t be possible unless Ross kept him fully informed of what he was up to.

‘What have the rest of you been doing while DCI Warwick and DI Hogan have been swanning around Europe at the taxpayers’ expense? Let’s begin with you, DC Pankhurst.’

‘Darren Carter,’ began Rebecca, ‘is still working as a doorman at the Eve Club, and other than smoking the occasional joint in a back alley during his breaks, there’s not much I can pin on him. Although loose talk after a couple of pints suggests he still thinks he’s got away with it.’

‘What about the owner of the club, who’s equally guilty?’ asked The Hawk.

‘He’s just made an application to extend his liquor licence until two a.m.’

‘Have a word with the local magistrate and make sure it’s thrown out. If he asks why, get him to give me a call.’

‘Will do,’ said Rebecca, making a note.

‘Let me make it clear, Detective Constable,’ continued The Hawk, his gaze still concentrated on Rebecca. ‘I won’t be satisfied until that club is closed down and both those villains are locked up.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Rebecca repeated, but she didn’t make a note this time.

‘Is your news any better, DS Adaja?’

‘Yes and no, sir,’ said Paul. ‘Sleeman’s still lending money at extortionate rates, while threatening to impose an unwritten default clause for anyone who doesn’t pay up on time. But there’s not a lot I can do about it.’

‘Why not?’ demanded William.

‘Every victim I’ve interviewed so far has either clammed up completely, or denied ever having heard of Sleeman. Even the one who’d recently lost a finger.’

‘They’re obviously more frightened of Sleeman than they are of us,’ said Ross.

‘And who can blame them,’ said William.