‘Haven’t we discussed this already? I told Ruby to send you over the personnel file. Beyond that, I don’t know what else to tell you. I heard you have been asking around. I haven’t seen those boys for a while.’ Corrigan gestured for Adrian to sit in the chair opposite his desk.

‘You were close with Glover.’

‘Who told you that?’

‘Quick did, just before he killed himself in front of us,’ Adrian said, watching, waiting for Corrigan to react.

But he didn’t; he was eerily calm for a man at the centre of a police investigation.

‘That must have been quite upsetting. Did he tell you why he did it?’

‘No. No, he didn’t. I don’t suppose you have any idea?’ Adrian said.

‘Sorry, no. I didn’t know Leon that well.’

‘But you knew Simon Glover.’

‘I did. Nice guy. Really awful what happened to him. Do you know who did it?’ Corrigan said, the tone of his voice suggesting he was playing some kind of game.

‘What about the call your wife made to the police six weeks ago?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘It was the one where you threatened a uniformed officer. Ringing any bells, now?’

‘That was all a misunderstanding; my wife was just messing around. The matter is resolved.’

‘Let’s cut the shit, shall we? I don’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth. I’m sure you have people around you who hang on everything you say, but they don’t do it because they respect you. They do it because they are afraid of you. I have met plenty of men like you over the years and you’re all the same,’ Adrian said.

‘I doubt you’ve met anyone like me.’

‘That’s what they all say. You think you’re something special? You think you’re untouchable? You’re not. You’ll get caught. You know why?’

‘Why, Detective?’ Corrigan smiled and leaned back in his chair, amused more than anything.

‘Because you’re complacent and you rely on other people to do your dirty work for you. Not only that, but you also don’t understand that as soon as they all realise you’re going down and they don’t need to be afraid of you anymore, they’ll talk. Once we find those people and get one of them to open up, it will be like dominoes. One by one, they will flip on you.’

‘I don’t know who you think I am, Detective Miles.’

‘I think you’re so insecure that you need to beat up your wife to feel like you matter, but you don’t. You don’t matter, Mr Corrigan.’

‘Big words from a nobody. You should be careful how you speak to people, Detective Miles. I could contact your superior officer and tell him you’re being unreasonable.’

‘Her, and go ahead.’