Inspector Arno Jansen, closest thing I ever had to a protégé. Before I was forced to knock him out with a rock in a quarry just outside Amsterdam. I’m not sure he’s ever forgiven me for that, even though he knew it was done at the behest of a psychotic killer who was holding Tanya hostage and would have killed her if I didn’t follow his orders.

‘Just a bit of fun. Haven’t beaten anyone up for a while.’

‘Well, glad you weren’t hurt too badly.’

I take another pull from the vape. ‘How’s things?’ I ask after exhaling.

‘Well … been meaning to call you actually. Wondering if you can help me with something?’

‘If it’s itchy, I’d see a doctor. Better safe than sorry.’

‘The old ones are always the best, sir.’

Truth is, I’ve hardly spoken to anyone in months. Since the diagnosis I’ve been doing my best to get better, but I learnt early on that being around other people wasn’t helping. Now I’m starting to see the result of shielding myself, walling myself off from the world. And yet it’s worked. I’m better now than I’ve been at any other time since I was diagnosed. Better, but still not fully there. And I don’t need anything to knock me back. Which is why I’m starting to feel nervous about this call.

‘So what is it then?’ I ask.

‘I’ve just been helping out Marit De Jong. He arrested someone earlier who he thinks is the guy who broke into a Rashid Benkirane’s coffee place, stole a machine and beat the owner up. Apparently Rashid’s a friend of yours?’

‘You’ve got the guy?’

‘Marit did. Been trying to get hold of Rashid but his phone’s off. I believe you helped him when he made the original report and I was wondering if you knew where he was. You live right by him, don’t you?’

I get up and step over to one of the windows. Rashid lives above his business just across the canal and I can see lights on in the two-room apartment.

‘Looks like he’s around.’

‘Don’t suppose you could nip over there, pass the message on? Maybe even bring him in if he is?’

‘Is it really that urgent?’

‘Kinda is. I’m up against it at the moment. Big murder case and I’m only on this as one of Marit’s kids was taken to hospital, and we’ll have to release the suspect soon if we’re not able to charge him. Honestly I just want it off my desk so I can get back to what I’m really supposed to be doing. Please?’

‘Why do you need me to bring him?’

‘Marit said Rashid’s really nervous of police, and that you’d gone with him all the previous occasions.’