‘Between you and me, I’m hell-bent on seeing them dead. I don’t want them arrested and tried. I want them . . . well, you can imagine what I want. But, if it’s okay with you, I will find out as much as I can and give you every last bit of information we have. I only ask one thing in return.’

Mike stared ahead. ‘And what would that be?’

Stoneham was in awe of the man’s calm and yet intimidating demeanour. ‘Tell me how you killed them. I want to know how they suffered.’

‘I understand fully. You have my word because I’ve been in your shoes many moons ago, and I wanted those details too. In fact, I wanted every last gory one of them.’

Mike’s sharp words sent a chill up Stoneham’s spine.

‘You never mentioned that the MP is your sister.’

Stoneham suddenly felt a little hot under the collar. ‘No. We tend to keep our relationship private. It causes problems in our line of work, otherwise.’

Mike scoffed. ‘You mean you don’t want the public to know that you’ll line each other’s pockets. Who better to have than the Police Commissioner backing her every decision regarding the streets?’

Stoneham was about to deny that statement but thought better of it. He’d learned now that the Mike Regans of this world weren’t easily fobbed off with bullshit.

‘Yes, that’s right. Does that give you a different impression of me?’

Mike didn’t answer right away. He shook his head and sighed. ‘I really don’t give a shit if you’re the Prime Minister’s brother. We all have a job to do, whether we’re on the same side or not. It’s about the rules – moral rules and respect. Today, you’ve come to see my son, out of respect, regardless of the fact that we’re on opposite sides in everything else in our lives. And here we are united, because when it comes down to it, we’re all still human, and that, my friend, is where animal instinct takes over. The world of rights and wrongs merges into one, when our loved ones get fucking hurt.’

Stoneham looked down at the floor. ‘My father was spot-on about you. You are a law unto yourself, but a just law in my eyes.’

‘Life gives us lemons. We can make lemonade or use it to burn the eyes of our enemy. It’s our choice.’

‘I have to go, but when Ricky is well enough to speak, would you ask him if my niece was alive when they . . . ?’ His words trailed off.

Mike suddenly took his eyes away from Ricky and turned to see the pain on the Commissioner’s face. He grabbed his arm. ‘I will, and, trust me, I’ll spend my life hunting those bastards down.’