Duffy looked at the phone’s screen. It told him two things. Bruce Bull was calling. And he was doing so after midnight.

Duffy connected the call, retook his seat and downed the last mouthful of now warm white wine that was sitting in a glass next to his chair.

Only then did he speak.

‘Bruce. It’s a bit late, big man.’

‘I know, I know. But it’s important.’

‘I bloody hope it is. What’s up?’

‘It’s Nizar Mansour. He’s been attacked in prison.’

‘What? Is he OK?’

‘I wouldn’t go as far as to say OK, no. He’s hurt. Bad enough that he’s in intensive care. But he’ll live.’

‘Shit. Who did it?’

‘Inmates is the party line,’ Bull replied, ‘but I think there’s more to it than that. There was a guard hurt in the incident. Officials are saying he went to Nizar’s aid and got hurt then, but it doesn’t ring true with the rest of it.’

‘You think he was in on it, eh? The guard?’

‘Yeah. It’s got all the hallmarks of an attempted prison hit. I think someone organised this. To shut him up for good.’

‘It’s easy to “think”, Bruce. Not much you can do when you have no evidence, though.’

‘You’re telling me. But still, it’s enough for me to have put a guard on Nizar. I’ve got my best man with him. He won’t leave him for a second.’

‘So he’s safe for now.’

‘For now.’

‘And how long can that last?’

‘I can keep him protected for a few days at least,’ Bull explained. ‘After that? We’ll see. But this has taken a real turn. I knew they’d want him out of the way, but I didn’t think they’d act this fast.’

‘Aye, it’s quick. Especially to get at someone held in the unit. These guys have got some proper resources, Bruce. You still happy we’re going up against them?’

‘I never said I was happy about it.’

‘Aye, well, I am. Even more now. Bring the bastards on, I say.’

‘I really hope you don’t regret those words, Will.’

‘Time will tell, eh?’

‘I guess so.’

‘What about tomorrow?’ Duffy asked, the thought just occurring to him. ‘We’re supposed to be in Woolwich for his first hearing.’

‘Not a chance. He won’t be fit. We haven’t had the prognosis yet, but it’ll be Monday at the very earliest.’

‘My wedding anniversary. That’ll please the wife.’

‘It’s just a morning. She’ll let you off.’

‘You’ve not met my wife,’ Duffy laughed. ‘Anyway, look, I’ll let Michael Devlin know about tomorrow. And I guess I’ll see you on Monday, eh?’

‘There’s one more thing,’ Bull said, keeping Duffy on the line. ‘I was going to tell you tomorrow but since I’ve got you.’

‘What is it?’

‘It’s what we discussed earlier. About Nizar’s sister.’

‘Aye. You find something?’

‘I’m afraid I did. We heard back from the Italian police pretty quickly on this. They found a body matching Yara Mansour four days ago. Washed up in the Bay of Naples.’