‘And we haven’t. We’ve considered that, along with the rest of the evidence, and there’s nothing to tie Locke directly to any of it. The few employees we arrested all went through Bolton, or that other fellow we have in custody, Patchett. We have nothing usable to tie Doug Anderson or George Campbell directly to Locke, yet, either. Campbell’s lawyers have worked out a deal with Superintendent Milburn. Can’t go into all the detail, non-disclosure and all that. He’s confirmed Bolton, Woodley and Davies being there the night that girl died, though, not that we can do much with Woodley. He had a heart attack a few years back. We do, however, know that Locke gave the order to have her picked up to blackmail the dad with. Campbell was there when her father topped himself as well. Nudged in the right direction by Locke, but he pulled the trigger himself, it seems.’

‘You’ll be telling me next we’re not even charging Campbell with anything,’ said Porter.

Nesbitt shrugged. ‘There’s nobody left to contradict him. No forensic evidence to use against him. And he’s managed to give us enough of what he’s picked up from Locke over the years that should help mop up what’s left of the business. He’ll be out of a job, that much is a given, but it does us more harm than good to crucify him in public with what we have.’

‘Bullshit,’ Porter hissed. ‘I was there. He killed her. He nearly bloody killed me. He needs to answer for that. And what about Doug? He led us to Atlas for one thing. He led us to Bolton.’ Porter could already feel himself swimming against the tide of a mind made up.

‘Everything George has said in his statement will be fully investigated while he’s on a leave of absence pending his enforced retirement. As for Doug, could have been there at the warehouse following up a line of enquiry as part—’

‘He was there because of the fake line I fed him about Bolton.’ Porter felt the warmth in his cheeks, fighting to keep his anger in check. ‘The pair of them are a disgrace to the force.’

‘And you think that’s strong enough to justify the kicking this lot will give us?’ Nesbitt said, nodding sharply towards the waiting journalists. ‘You think if Doug was alive, that the CPS would prosecute with that evidence?’ He shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter what they did, Porter. It matters what we can prove. We can prove Bolton was a bad man. All we do by dragging Locke, Campbell and Anderson down with him is to hurt ourselves.’

‘And if anyone gets wind of us covering this up, what do you think that’ll do to us?’