Declan could feel Michael’s euphoria. It was over two weeks since Jessie had gone missing, and not a soul had seen or heard anything of her since. That is, except her own mother, and she had kept the information to herself. What the fuck was that about? Everyone knew that Josephine was running on fucking fumes. She was a strange fucker at the best of times, but when Michael told him she had been contacted about her daughter and she hadn’t bothered to follow it up, it proved how much of a fucking nut she really was. It was the only opportunity they had been given to find out the girl’s location and Josephine Flynn had put her own fucking mentalness above her only child’s welfare. That was harsh, by anyone’s standards.

But now, finally, Michael had something to work with, something tangible he could use. He deserved every second of his relief; it had been a long time coming.

Michael was writing everything down in a notebook. ‘He bought Lambert and Butler cigarettes, and a bottle of the cheapest vodka, just like he did at Mrs Singh’s. We know that he has never passed his driving test, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t got a vehicle. It just means it’s not insured. But why isn’t he buying food?’

Declan shrugged. He had wondered that himself, but he didn’t want to say it and worry Michael.

‘The Filth are combing everywhere, and so are our lads. If he has rented a place we will know about it. He can’t fucking hide out for ever, Michael. It’s not feasible. No one can drop off the radar these days.’

Michael grinned. This was the best he had felt since this nightmare had started.

The phone rang and Michael picked it up, hoping it was someone with the man’s location, or something else he could use to find his daughter.

Declan was watching Michael with a wide grin on his face, expecting to hear that the man had been found, and they could finally do something constructive – like kill the fucker, torture him at their leisure, and wipe him off the face of the earth.

‘You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!’

Declan could hear the disappointment in Michael’s voice; whoever was calling them didn’t have good news.

‘OK, OK. We will wait for it – just get it here quickly.’ Michael put the phone down slowly.

Declan held his breath as he waited for Michael to tell him the latest news.