‘Please no, please! You don’t understand. I really don’t fucking know who he is. I’ll tell you everything I know, but, I swear, I promise on my baby’s life, I don’t know his real name. I know what he’s doing, though. He’s going to take over South-East London and then the whole of the city. He’s done a deal with Tiggy Marlon from North London and Spider Day from the west side. He’s swapping all their supplies of cocaine for Flakka and also giving them a good cut of the profits.’

Staffie stepped forward and looked into Woodrow’s eyes. ‘Are you fucking shitting me?’

Mike pulled Staffie back. ‘I know who Marlon is, but who’s Spider?’

Staffie licked his teeth. ‘He’s a fucking nightmare of a man. He runs the Hells Angels.’

‘Well, the cunts have done away with Kai Lin an’ all. Him and Tiggy had split North London right down the middle.’

Staffie shrugged his shoulders. ‘Well, it looks like Kai Lin wasn’t gonna follow suit, but I don’t reckon it was Tiggy that killed him either because they were two men with respect for each other. So, I guess this Governor bloke is not only taking over but causing a shitstorm as well, yeah?’

Mike rubbed his bristles and sighed. ‘Right, then, let’s get this straight. This Governor geezer is trading the cocaine for Flakka with the Yardies and the fucking Hells Angels. Who else?’ He glared at Woodrow.

‘Anyone who has any power and influence, the Governor will take over. Any businesses that deal in cocaine will either be burned to the ground or taken over. He’s totally ruthless. I tell ya, man, he’s fucking mental.’

‘Your DNA was found at the cottage. That’s why you were taken down the nick for questioning. Why were you at the cottage?’

Woodrow looked shamefully at the floor. ‘I’m a dealer. My supplier gave me a phone number to call if I needed gear . . . ’ He looked at Dez. ‘My supplier disappeared shortly afterwards. He was found dead with a sack over his head. The Governor is like Banksy. He can create a masterpiece, but no one sees him do it.’

Mike was listening and watching for any sign that the man was lying. His instincts told him that Woodrow was not.

‘Did you ever meet this man?’

‘I only saw the back of him. But he’s a big lump with broad shoulders, cropped hair, and he’s white.’

Mike decided on another line of questioning. ‘What the fuck do you know about my son’s attack?’

Woodrow’s reaction was one of confusion. ‘Nothing. Why would I? I don’t even know who your son is!’