Along with the other two men, Victor watched with frightened intrigue. He likened it to a film set. Zara, the director, clearly knew the script, but he and his men were sitting there effectively blind.

Victor’s eyes followed Mike Regan around the room. He was the dangerous one. Victor speculated on his form of torture: he knew it would end like this. A concoction of boiling water and sugar, for example, was excruciatingly painful. He should know: he had used that method on more than one occasion. Staffie nonchalantly approached one of the tall metal toolboxes and opened the bottom drawer, the largest of them all. The clanking of metal as the man moved heavy tools around had Victor’s stomach turning over. He fidgeted in terror.

Joshua returned to his position next to Zara. That was when Victor glared in recognition. Joshua wasn’t a dealer, a stranger – this was Joshua Ezra, Izzy’s beloved nephew.

Zara noticed how Victor was unravelling the events in his mind. ‘Is that the so-called Governor, Joshua?’

‘Yes, that’s him, Zara.’

She smiled and then instantly wiped the smile from her face and pulled from her pocket the little ledger and threw it on the floor. It slid across the concrete and stopped directly at Victor’s feet.

‘I must say, that little stunt was ingenious. I am impressed, Torvic!’

Torvic’s eyes widened. It was over; she knew who he really was.

‘You may have thought you would get away with it, and I’m sure if this drugs’ deal was real, you would’ve taken the drugs and the money and probably killed me. I suppose in your sick, warped mind you were just marinating me ready for the oven. Slowly, but surely, you thought you would gain my utmost trust and turn me against my men, against the Regans, and anyone who really cared about me.’

The look on his face told her she was right.

‘You hoped to brainwash me into believing that you had my back, that I couldn’t survive without you, while you picked and clawed away at my business and my money, but, most of all, my name and that of my father.’ She sighed aloud. ‘You tried it once before, but you were younger then and yet so was my father. However, I will admit he was stronger than me, he knew what you were up to, and he knew how low you would stoop, so he sent me away.’ She laughed. ‘I bet you never thought I would ever come back and take over, though, did you? That must have been one hell of a shock for you, huh?’

Torvic’s brain was desperately trying to work out how she’d managed to find out so much, but he didn’t fight the gag to speak. He’d no choice but to remain motionless and let her continue, since she was on a roll.