‘No they won’t. They’ll just think you were hiding out here, trying to find a way to rescue your little boyfriend Tom, when you got disturbed, ran for cover, got caught up in all this and –oh, dear …’

Kate tried to rise but her legs were too cramped. ‘Tom’s here?’

‘I heard he really misses you.’ Swagger wiped a make-believe tear from one of his piggy eyes. ‘He’s all cut up over it. Well –he’s gonna be. Cut up in little pieces by the time Takapa’s through.’

Swagger guffawed with laughter and looked at Shaun and Eric. They managed a couple of sycophantic sniggers, but turned at the sound of a whining electric engine getting closer. Some kind of forklift truck was coming slowly across the stained concrete, piled high with boxes.

‘Meat wagon,’ Swagger announced, with evident pleasure. ‘We’re ready to roll. Tie her up, gag her, then let’s get her up there.’

Kate recoiled from Eric and Shaun as they advanced on her, but she knew she had nowhere to run.

g

Tom struggled against the ropes that bound him until his wrists were raw, and he was still no closer to escape. The situation seemed hopeless as the hands on the clock edged closer and closer towards midnight. He pictured Takapa and Marcie and Hal, her husband, talking and sipping cocktails upstairs together like VIPs, looking forward to their midnight arrival as guests of honour for the big fight.

A sound from outside startled him –a loud thump against the wall, then a dragging, sliding sort of noise.

The door handle turned. Someone was coming to get him. Tom braced himself.

Polar stood in the doorway, the hood of his black sweat top covering his face as ever, hands thrust in his pockets. Slowly he advanced.

Tom strained against his bonds but it was useless.

Then Polar crouched down in front of him. ‘I told you not to miss, what the hell happened back there?’ he said.

Only it wasn’t Polar’s voice.

The hood was shrugged off to reveal Jasmine crouched down in front of him. ‘Well, dumbass?’

Tom slumped back in his chair with relief. ‘A thug came in through the window.’

‘Typical,’ muttered Jasmine, roughly untying his knots.

He flinched as the ropes chafed against his raw skin. ‘So, you and Polar swapped outfits or something?’

‘Looks like Polar won’t be wearing anything ’cept a bodybag,’ she said brusquely. Now Tom looked more closely he could see dark stains stiffening the sweat top’s material. ‘We broke in through the locker room. Place was empty, he was just lying there, beaten up bad. Stacy said she don’t care much for his chances.’

‘Stacy’s here?’

‘Shit, we’re all here, Tommy-boy.’

‘Kate too?’

‘Ain’t seen her. But your Indian pal with the dumb name’s here.’

He blinked in disbelief. ‘Jicaque?’