‘The job you lobbied me for, you mean?’ he said sternly.

‘Yeah, that one. And then remember how one of those bastards even threatened to blowtorch my nose off?’

‘Don’t try this on, Lucy …’

‘I’m not trying anything on. I’m just saying … I did a job of work for you, that year. We took down a crime syndicate and arrested two serial killers.’

‘For which you’ve been rightly recognised.’

‘Sir, it’s only a little thing I’m asking.’

‘Lucy …’ Slater sounded flabbergasted. ‘Ian Dyke’s a bad lad. He’s been spreading the Low Riders’ poison all over Crowley, and probably well beyond it, for years …’

‘You’ve just told me he’s a cog in a machine. Is it really going to advance the cause if you throw everything but the kitchen sink at him just because you can’t collar the rest of them?’

There was another pregnant silence.

‘Okay,’ he eventually replied. ‘I’ll tell you what I can do. And this is purely on the basis of our friendship, which is on thin ice at present, my girl.’

‘I understand that, sir … I’m very sorry.’

‘Yeah, you sound it.’ He paused, as if maybe about to reconsider. ‘If Dyke changes his plea to guilty … and he might as well because he hasn’t got a leg to stand on, I will personally write to the judge and point out that the accused has been helpful and cooperative throughout the case, has demonstrated genuine remorse and is seriously trying to get his life together. Now, you don’t need me to tell you it won’t necessarily save his neck, but it might mean that the judge will go a little easier on him … and, like I say, he’s got to change his plea first, and that hasn’t come from me, by the way … it needs to come from his legal team. So, the first thing Dyke needs to do is get onto his brief. Make sure he understands that, Lucy … the first move must come from him.’

‘Okay, sir. I’ll pass that on.’ Lucy knew this was the best deal they were going to get. ‘Thanks for your help.’

‘I don’t know what you’re into with the Low Riders, love … but I advise you to be wary of them. They’re not just some run-of-the-mill motorcycle club. They’re a heavy crew and they’re regularly involved in crime.’

‘I know that, sir.’

‘And that president of theirs, Kyle Armstrong – he’s the worst of them.’

‘I know that too, sir. Thanks.’

Slater harrumphed. ‘See you round, Lucy. Take care.’

Chapter 4

Owing to Crowley’s status as a one-time coal and textiles hotspot, its warehouse and factory district was almost in the town centre, primarily because that was where the main rail-yard was, but it was also only a stone’s throw from the main shopping area.