Karl has brought me through a tucked-away, abandoned corridor to a room that was perhaps once an office, but now acts as a graveyard for broken chairs and tables. I pick my way through piled-up furniture and broken chair legs.

“I’m going to have to lock you up – I need to make it look like I hauled you in. He has to believe that I’m on his side. I will bring Minnow, saying I’ve found his murderer. But don’t worry, I won’t leave you with him.”

“No, wait outside,” I say. “I want this to just be me and him.”

Karl nods his understanding. The door is shut, the lock clicks and I wait, secret in hand, ready to open fire.

Jack Minnow keeps me waiting. I have been standing long enough to wish that just one of these chairs was intact. So, when the door creaks open, it makes me jump. Minnow wanders in, wide contented smile, shoulders back and a swagger in his walk. He didn’t think it would be quite this easy.

“Got yourself caught?” He smirks. “Not as clever as you think, are you, Flint?” Minnow flexes his fingers. There is a predatory snarl about him that makes my skin crawl. “The mayor will be thrilled – everything’s falling into place.” He steps closer and I force myself to stand my ground. I clear my throat.

“Perhaps it’s not me who is caught.” My voice shakes. “Did you think I had forgotten about you, Minnow?”

His mouth twitches. “Bravado doesn’t look good on you. Fearful, cowardly – that’s the real you.”

I hate that he sees through me, that he seems to know my weaknesses and hopes – he always finds the perfect way to work his way in and shatter them. Not this time.

“You’re not going to arrest me,” I tell him. “And you’re not going to tell Longsight that I was here. I want you to tell me what you’ve done with Mel. And I want to know where Gull is.”

At this, Jack Minnow laughs. Shaking his head, he speaks.

“I assume there is an ‘or else…’ at the end of that impressive list of demands?” His voice is bored.

“Have you forgotten?” It’s my turn to smile. “I know about you, Minnow. I know all about your life. You have a secret, and unless you do the things I ask, your secret will be revealed to the world. How do you think the people will react when they hear that your father was a traitor – that he stole from the marked to give to the blanks? What do you think they will do when they discover that you violated our holy place by saying his name over and over, every night? The son of a forgotten daring to defile our community with your wicked words. How will they react, Minnow? What will they do when they discover your sins?”