‘Lisa thinks her dad got Craig killed. She’s threatening to go to the, y’know, to you lot.’

‘And did he?’

‘No.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘Yeah. Danny was in the pub on Tuesday night. Behind the bar.’

‘Race Night?’

‘Yeah, he were there till closing time. There’s cameras inside and out.’

‘That goes for your husband’s associates too?’

She screwed up her face, thought about it.

‘That posh fella came round. The Professor, they call him.’

‘Leo Turner? When was this?’

‘Today. I heard ’em talking. This is between you and me, right?’

‘This is a double murder. There might be more to come. You need to tell me everything you know.’

‘He said they’re gonna use the murders for publicity.’

‘Publicity?’

‘Y’know, if someone from the League is arrested for it, Danny gets himself on telly, kicks up a fuss, says the League is being blamed ’cos of the anti-drugs stuff and what-’ave-yer.’

‘That’s plausible. But it’s two murders we’re talking about. So far. Kind of high risk, don’t you think? All that vigilante stuff on the website? The League’s definitely gonna be under suspicion.’

‘Not Danny. All Tuesday he were in the pub.’

‘OK, let’s go back to Leo Turner. What did he say exactly?’

‘Soon as someone from the League gets taken in for questioning, Danny’s gonna do a press conference. Make it look like police harassment.’

‘Who does he think is likely to get brought in for questioning? Let me guess. Daz and Ranksy? Do they fit the bill?’

‘That’s what I want to tell you. They’ve been threatening Craig Shaw’s mum.’

He paused, forced himself to remain calm. ‘Go on.’

‘All that stuff about only selling spliffs? He were doing coke and ket, an’all. Owt yer wanted, the cocky twat. Used to come down our estate. Taking the fuckin’ piss.’

‘So?’

‘I phoned him a few times.’

‘How did you get his number?’

She looked at Joe as if he was stupid.

‘He sells drugs. Half the bloody estate’s got his number. He told me to mind my own business.’

‘And your daughter?’

‘I tried to talk to her. But she’s an adult. I couldn’t go round there and drag her out, could I?’

‘So you threatened his mum?’

She looked away.

‘I paid Daz and Ranksy to do it. Anonymous, no names. I thought his mum might get through to him.’

‘You scared her shitless. Made it look like a rival gang. Was that the idea? Stuff through the letterbox, the nasty phone calls? Was all of that you?’

‘I’m not proud. I didn’t know what else to do.’

‘Does Danny know?’

‘No. Didn’t think I needed to tell him. It worked, or I thought it had.’

‘The black Beemer disappeared, right?’

She nodded.

‘But,’ he continued, ‘all he’d done was switch to his mum’s car.’