The last words were spat out; he could see that her mind was elsewhere. Reeling from her meeting with Nowak and the damage he and his men had inflicted on her brother, the thoughts running through her head were not pleasant. The problems of one chief of police didn’t figure high on her agenda. But she tried to feign interest, her eyes on his lips as he repeatedly uttered the word ‘white’, his mouth stretching so wide it almost split his cheeks. His face was flushed as though he’d been drinking and Jia wondered if the job was a little too much for him. His annoyance at the situation was apparent. He wasn’t used to having to chase people to get back to him and she had inconvenienced him by making it necessary to seek her out in person.

‘Eyewitnesses describe these thugs as anywhere between five foot eight and six foot, with brown hair and – wait for it – Asian. They took it into their hands to exact mindless revenge in my city, a city that is already at boiling point, and being watched by outsiders, right-wing groups ready to rip it open again and drag its intestines out on to the streets to chants of racial hatred!’

‘I understand, but what can I do? We’re preparing for a funeral here,’ Jia said. She was tired of listening to the sound of his voice.

‘I know, Ms Khan, and I am sorry for your loss.’ Briscoe’s voice suddenly became practised, as if reading from a script. ‘We are doing all we can to find out who was responsible. But we could do with your help in return…’

‘Are there any leads on my father’s death?’ Jia said, substituting his request with her own.

‘Not yet. We’re working our way through the information. But as you know, your father had many enemies…’ His eyebrows furrowed as he spoke, and his eyes disappeared further into his face.

Jia bristled at his words. ‘I’m sure, Chief Constable, that in your line of work you also have many enemies. If you met an untimely death, would you expect to be treated with less respect?’

The policeman looked disappointed. ‘I am not here to mark territory, Ms Khan. I don’t think you understand the severity of the situation. Look, I love this town, but she is not like other cities. This is not a melting pot, it’s a pressure cooker. And unless you help me we will have a riot on our hands of unprecedented proportions!’

‘And how should I do that?’ Jia asked.