‘Get that lot bagged up as soon as and get it over to Blackpool.’ Frankie held the drugs in his hands. They were shaking. He tried to steady them. The guy was talking to him but nothing he was saying was going in. It was like someone had turned the volume down in his ears. A mobile started ringing and he answered it, started talking. What was Frankie meant to do now? A few minutes passed. Frankie tapped him on the arm to get his attention. There was no way he was sitting about waiting for him to finish the call.

‘I’m gone. I’ll go and sort this and get it shipped out.’

The man nodded his head, turned away and carried on with his conversation. Frankie hoped that was the last conversation he’d have to have with him.

Frankie slipped out of the car quickly and motored towards the fields nearby. He was sweating and his hands were clammy. His work here was done, and he wasn’t hanging around to get his collar felt too.

It all happened so fast. The car was swarmed within seconds. Sirens, blue lights flashing, shouting, screaming. The driver’s door was flung open and the man was dragged out and pinned to the floor face down while two officers searched the car. He was going ballistic, shouting and screaming, but no one was listening. Watching over it all, the plain clothes officer stood tall with a wide smirk on his face, looking down at his captive.

He kicked him sharply in the side. ‘Well, well, well. It doesn’t look like you’re having a good night, does it, Donny Knight?’

Chapter Thirty-Three

Donny lifted his head as best he could, but still couldn’t see who was talking to him. But he recognised the voice.

The copper dragged him up and held him over the bonnet with his face down while his colleagues slammed the silver cuffs around his wrists.

‘I’ve been watching you for months. Playing the good guy, Donny Knight, headteacher, saint and saver of lost souls. While all the time you’re lining your pocket. And it doesn’t stop there, does it? Bit of a reputation as a ladies’ man, I gather. Despite that lovely wife of yours thinking the sun shines out of your backside. I’ve told you to steer clear of my ex-girlfriend already. You like Melanie, don’t you, you bent fucker?’

Donny couldn’t take in what the fuck was happening here. But he realised where he knew the voice from. It was the guy from the night when his car windows got done. He’d forgotten Melanie had said her ex was a copper, and a mental one at that.