He shrugged. ‘In that case I’ll listen to what you have to say and then decide.’ He indicated the two chairs in front of the desk. ‘You’d better sit down then. Would you like Danny to get you something to drink? Tea or coffee?’

‘No thanks,’ I said for both of us.

Once seated, I took out my notebook and flipped it open. While doing so I studied the man behind the desk who seemed to be more relaxed than he should have been.

Every one of his fifty-seven years was etched in his face. His complexion was unhealthy and sallow, and red veins laced the whites of his eyes.

He looked unwell to me, but even so there was a quiet, brooding intensity about him that told me he was still a force to be reckoned with.

‘So fire away, detective inspector,’ he said. ‘What’s brought you people back here so soon after the last visit? If it’s to ask me again where that firearms officer is, well, my answer’s the same: I haven’t the foggiest idea.’

I decided to get straight to the point and said, ‘This has nothing to do with Officer Wallis. It’s about an anonymous text message that’s been sent to all the detectives on the task force, along with members of our families.’

‘Is that so?’

‘It is. The sender says he wants the task force to be disbanded and calls on the detectives to step back from it.’

I paused there to gauge his reaction. But there wasn’t one. His expression didn’t change.

‘That sounds pretty innocuous,’ he said. ‘What the fuck has it got to do with me?’

‘The message goes on to say that if we refuse to step back then we’ll be killed,’ I said.

He gave a little whistle. ‘I can see why you’re in a flap. But I still don’t know what it has to do with me.’

‘I’d have thought that was obvious,’ I said. ‘You more than anyone has a good reason to want to see the task force disbanded and the investigation into your activities halted or at least disrupted.’

His eyes tightened. ‘And do you really think I’m stupid enough to make things worse for myself by killing coppers?’ he said, his voice rising. ‘Give me some credit, love. I’ve got nothing to do with any anonymous threats so you’re wasting your time and mine.’

‘Then you won’t mind if we check your phones and computers, both here and at your flat.’

He shrugged and pointed to a mobile phone lying on the desk.