‘He went a bit nuts actually,’ said Brooke.

‘How do you mean?’

‘He, like, totally flipped out,’ said Brooke. ‘Big time. Started cussing everyone about his sister, saying we didn’t, like, care. He had a knife. Waving it about. Don’t think he’d have shanked anyone, though.’

Maxie put her fork down with a clatter and gave a hard stare, first to Brooke then to Justin.

‘Why are you only just now telling me this?’

‘Only just remembered about it,’ said Brooke. ‘With all else that’s been going on.’

‘I’d forgotten about that as well,’ said Justin. ‘Do you think it means something?’

‘Of course it means something, you idiots,’ said Maxie. ‘It means that he had a motive.’

‘Edge up, girl,’ said Brooke. ‘It was all just breeze. We never had nothing to do with his sister getting killed.’

‘In his mind we did,’ said Justin. ‘He blamed us somehow.’

‘He had keys, yeah?’ said Maxie. ‘To the lower-level doors?’

‘Yes.’

‘And now he’s disappeared?’

‘We assumed the sickos had got him.’

‘Well, there’s your bloody traitor,’ said Maxie. ‘It’s obvious.’

‘Maybe.’ Justin wouldn’t catch Maxie’s eye.

‘Oh, come on,’ said Maxie, trying not to lose her temper. ‘He let them out and then ran off.’

‘I suppose it’s possible,’ said Justin. ‘He’d been ill. Was definitely a little screwed up. But I still think we should keep interviewing everyone.’

‘We ask them all about Paul, though,’ said Maxie. ‘Maybe someone saw him, one of the little ones.’

‘OK …’

Maxie scooped up the rice, shoved it in her mouth. Wondered what Blue was doing right now. Wanted him to be here. This was too deep for her; she couldn’t carry it alone. She wished she’d gone with him. Would have preferred to take her chances on the streets than sit it out here.

She swallowed the rice without tasting it.

Chapter 43

43

Blue wasn’t going to show it, but he was all churned up. His stomach was gurgling, bubbling with acid. It was nervousness more than fear. Wouldn’t take much to tip him over, though. He was only just holding it together. He had a feeling of being off balance, not sure what to do.

Mustn’t let anyone see that.

He needed them all to believe in him.

It had taken a year to get sorted back home in Holloway. People forgot just how crazy it had been back in the day, when it had all kicked off. How nobody had been in charge, but eventually some leaders had stood up, taken over, and one by one they’d all been killed, till there was only Blue left. Last man standing. It was luck more than anything. He knew that. By then he’d learnt to walk the walk. To put on his armour. Not let the mask slip. Stone cold.