Frankie squirmed; he was no grass. ‘Nah, fuck off, I’m no snitch. You’ve got fuck all on me. What, a few bags of weed that I’m carrying and some money. I can account for the money if I have to. You know the dance. So, fuck off out of my face.’

The officer shook his head. The kid had balls.

‘All right, let me tell you a bit more and then we can have a little chat. Do I need to go into your visits to Blackpool, the parcels you take and the money you bring back? I reckon you’ll be looking at a five stretch for sure. We’ve watched you for months, you’re the ringleader of all these young kids running drugs up and down. And,’ he paused, ‘we can prove it. So, my friend, we’ve got you by the short and fucking curlies.’

Frankie’s eyes opened wider. This was a different ballgame now. Fuck that, he didn’t want to go to jail for years. But, on the other hand, would he be a Judas? He sat thinking, scratching the end of his chin, anxious. He stared out at the night sky and ran his tongue over his teeth. He’d always demanded loyalty from his lads, and he’d always thought he’d be the same, but then nobody would know what he’d done, would they? Who knew he was talking to the dibble anyway? He had to look after number one. There was no way he was getting slammed if he didn’t have to. He had to think about this but his head was all over the place. The guy could be setting him up, leading him down the garden path and stitching him up like a kipper. He had to play for time. ‘Have you got a cig?’

The man reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a full deck of Benson & Hedges Gold. He flicked his lighter and lit two, passing one to Frankie.

‘So, tell me again how this works because I’m saying fuck all until I know the script. You pricks are well known for not sticking to your word.’

The copper nodded his head slowly. ‘It works well for both of us. Let’s say I have an old score to settle with the big guy and I want payback. I’ve waited a very long time for this cunt and all I need now is a little more information. I’m not really arsed about the foot soldiers, I just want the top man.’