‘You don’t know me but I know all about you.’ I said. ‘You’re Roy Slack’s right-hand man, and you’re a murdering bastard. You’ve also lied to the police about knowing nothing about his revenge attacks on officers.’

His eyes stretched wide and he shook his head. ‘Are you serious? That’s what this is about.’

‘I’m deadly serious,’ I said. ‘In fact I reckon you’re the one who’s been sending those text messages to the detectives on the task force. I hear you’re some kind of computer nerd, so that kind of thing is right up your street.’

‘You’re talking bollocks.’

‘I don’t think so. You’re in this shit right up to your neck. And you’re going to tell me all about it. Starting with everything you know about the woman who’s carrying out the killings on Slack’s behalf.’

That was the moment he realised I was a copper. He curled his lower lip and his eyes took on a fiery intensity.

‘I don’t fucking believe it,’ he blurted. ‘You’re Old Bill. First you snatch Roy and now me. Jesus, you pigs must be desperate.’

I kicked him in the crotch this time and the agony that contorted his features was a sight to behold. I realised suddenly that I was actually enjoying myself.

While he twisted his body and moaned, I looked around the kitchen. Marble worktops. Shiny grey units. All the mod cons. There was an island in the centre of the room and a table with four chairs. Clearly he’d spent a lot of his ill-gotten gains on it.

‘This can go on all night,’ I said. ‘And you won’t be as lucky as your boss was because there’s no team of coppers on their way here to rescue you.’

His complexion was pallid and sickly, but he was a tough brute and I didn’t get the sense that he was ready to start talking. It was a shame that I couldn’t just reach my hand into his brain and pull out the information.

‘There’s something else you’re going to tell me before the night is over,’ I said. ‘The firm has someone working for them inside the task force. Someone who must have given you the personal details of the detectives. I want to know who it is.’

If somebody had asked me a week ago if I’d be able to do what I was now doing I would have told them absolutely not. No way could I ever resort to torturing anyone, even a low-life thug like Danny Carver. But it’s amazing how events can change people and make them act out of character.