“I’ve already got a patrol car out looking for this Jade,” Carver grunted. “And I’ll see what we can do about Tariq and his mates. I think I know who they are. I suggest your team visit Sunny and the others and take them away with you to Eastvale for questioning. If you can do it discreetly, so much the better. I’m already getting the sense that people here know there’s something going on around the estate tonight, and the mood could quickly get nasty. There’s also been stories in the press, hints, as I’m sure you know. Links between your victim and the Asian community. Albert Moffat had a few things to say after his interview, it appears. None of this helps. I wouldn’t want you to be here when the riots start.”

McLaughlin gave him a hard glance. “Riots are nothing new to me, Wilf,” he said, “but I take your point.” He looked toward Banks, Annie and AC Gervaise. “Are we all agreed?”

They nodded.

“Right, AC Gervaise,” McLaughlin said, “will you inform Eastvale HQ to make sure the interview rooms are clear and ready as we’re expecting some VIP guests in the near future, while I get on to County HQ and request a few reinforcements.”

“I’ll get right on it,” said Gervaise.

“And Detective Superintendent Banks and DI Cabbot here can go and wake up this Sunny character. We’ll send patrol cars to pick up his mates, just so they don’t get a whiff of what’s happening and try to scarper.”

“What about me?” said Carver.

“Perhaps you could find out what Reg and Bill were doing on Tuesday night?” said McLaughlin. “And until you do, I’d suggest you keep them off active duty.”

IN A way, it wasn’t too difficult to be discreet at three o’clock in the morning when Banks and Annie knocked on the door to Sunny’s flat beside the kebab and pizza takeaway. At the same time, other teams of two officers were taking in Ismail, Faisal and Hassan. It would have been a lot worse if they had had to use the big red knocker, which lay in the boot of their car. But the door was opened by a disheveled and curious Sunny, wearing black silk pajamas, who immediately tried to shut the door again when he saw who was there. It didn’t work. Banks already had his foot in and a simple push with his shoulder was all it took.

“What’s up, Sunny?” Annie said. “Expecting someone else? At this time of night? Tariq not reported back yet?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You can’t do this.”

“We’re trying to find a girl called Jade,” Banks said. “And we have reason to believe she might be here.”

“There’s nobody else here.”