Go on.' Langton wafted his hand with impatience.

I told Rashid about what I'd heard, that was all, then he kicked me and went back to his room. He might have been doing business there, I honest to God don't know. I dunno if he was even supposed to be living there, but a day later he come and said to me that I needed to take some medication to Sickert. I didn't argue; he give me this box of pills and stuff and I went to see Gail. I never saw Sickert apart from for a few minutes when I give him the box. I swear before God that was the only time I was there, after when me and Murphy went to see her.'

Did Sickert ask about me?' Anna interjected.

Well, I repeated what I had told Rashid: that this policewoman's bloke had been cut up, and that I was certain she wasn't at the hostel because of itit was just a coincidence.'

What else did you say to him?' Langton asked.

I said she had red hair, that was all. Then he took the stuff I'd brought and told me to get lost.' Vernon looked from Anna to Langton; sweat was glistening on his face. That's all, I swear before God, that was all that happened. I mean, I got nothin' to do with Gail's murder. I swear on my life.'

So you took Sickert what, exactly? Drugs? Medication?'

I dunno. Rashid said that Sickert needed it; he's got some blood disease, that's all I know.'

Blood disease? You mean like sickle cell anaemia?'

I dunno.'

Are you the father of Gail's youngest daughter?' Anna asked.

Vernon turned towards her. Me?'

Yes, you.'

No way! Listen, I mean I don't wanna speak ill of the dead, right, but she put it about. I mean, all her kids had different fathers, an' I'm not one of them.'

What work did this Rashid do?'

What?'

Langton sighed and tapped the table. What work did this guy Rashid do?'

I dunno. Like I keep on saying, I didn't really know him. I swear before God I've told you all I know about him.'

Describe him,' Langton snapped.

Who?'

Langton shoved the table hard towards Vernon and he crunched back in his seat.

I already did, for Chrissakes! He was a big black mother with muscles. That's itI keep on telling you I didn't really know the guy.'

Thinkwhat else?'

Shit, I dunno. I'm gettin' threats in here; they think I'm a grass.'

Langton stared at him, waiting.

Like I said before: teeth missing, but one or two gold capped ones, in the front.'

And then Vernon smiled nervously, showing his own crooked, tobacco-stained teeth.

Anna felt drained when they drove away from Wandsworth. Langton was in a very dark mood.

He asked her over and over again to repeat the description of Rashid. They soon realized that it must have been Rashid whom the landlord had seen at the bungalow, when he had met Sickert in the kitchen there, to discuss the new henhouse.

When she had gone to the hostel on the day they had arrested Arthur Murphy, Anna had only had a quick glimpse of the man who slammed the front door in her face. He was wearing boxer shorts, was big and muscular and, as far as she could recall, had gold teeth in the front of his mouth.

No coincidences,' Langton muttered.

This also raised the possibility that Rashid could have been involved in Gail's murder and, most importantly, that he could also have been one of the two men who had slashed Langton to pieces.

Well, I said I'd get the bastards, and it's looking like I'm getting closer,' he said to himself.

I'm sorry, what did you say?' asked Anna.

Nothing.'

Yes, you did.'

I just said it feels like I am getting closerthe murder of Gail and her kids, okay?' He made no reference to what he really felt he was getting closer to. Before Anna could pursue it, Langton's phone rang. It was Mike Lewis. Langton listened to the call, then covered the mouthpiece and turned to Anna.

Forensic have just had confirmation that the child's skull found at the piggery was a relative of Gail Sickert, most likely that of the youngest girl, due to its size. They've not found any other remains yet, but they're still working there.'

Langton returned to the call. I want a trace on a black male: Rashid Burry.' He spelled it out. He was at the hostel, and now we are sure he was also at the piggery. Also, our suspect Sickert may be suffering from sickle cell disease as he was in need of medication, so get someone checking hospitals down there.'

Anna watched Langton and felt very uneasy when he laughed softly and said, Okay, Mike, keep at it. Shaping up, isn't it?'

Then he cut off the call and rested back, closing his eyes.

They were now armed with more information with which to press Murphy to assist them. Driven in a squad car, they had a long journey over to the Isle of Wight to Parkhurst prison, Langton remaining moody and silent throughout.

Anna felt humiliated that she hadn't realized how Vernon had discovered her connection to Langton. She had been so busy accusing everyone else, when it had been something as simple as a newspaper left on the seat of the patrol car.

I just didn't realize,' she said out loud. About the newspaper, I mean.'

Langton murmured for her not to worry, but she did; she was so angry with herself. She leaned forwards from the back seat and tapped his shoulder.

I am really sorry. I wanted to tell you, but I kept on putting it off. At least now we know.'

Know what?'

That Sickert had a reason for frightening me. He is connected to your attack, or knows who did it.'

Yeah, but I think it's got more to do with this Rashid Burry. We might want Sickert for the murders, but I want Rashid brought in under suspicion as well.' He turned towards her. Don't bring up my attack. It's too early to make any connection, and the last thing I need right now is to get the top brass worried that I might have an ulterior motive for wanting to be involved with the investigation. Anna? You hear what I'm saying?'

Yes.'

Good.'

Lewis called again when they were on the ferry, to say they had come up empty-handed on Rashid Burry, but were working with the probation departments, so might have more news later. Detective Constable Grace Ballagio, who was checking hospitals in the local area, also made contact: she had had no luck so far tracking down any local patient with sickle cell anaemia, so she was now going further afield, to hospitals within a twenty-mile radius of the piggery. Langton said she should also keep running with the name Rashid Burry and see if it paid off.

It was after four when they arrived at Parkhurst. The prison Governor had asked that they come directly to his office. He was a mild-mannered man, balding, with spectacles. He offered coffee or tea but they both refused.

I am afraid I have some rather bad news,' he told them. You asked to interview Arthur Murphy; at the time, he was available to you.'

But he isn't now?'

No, he's not.'

Langton frowned irritably. He has refused?'

No, he was knifed during his exercise period. He died last night.'

Jesus Christ! Wasn't he on Rule 43?'

Yes. The two men who were involved are child-molesters from the same wing.'

Langton put his hands over his face. The attack: was it made by white prisoners?'

No, black. One shared a cell with Murphy. Right now, we are very overcrowded. I am not making excuses for what has happened to Arthur Murphy, and there will obviously be a full enquiry, but right now there are over ten thousand foreigners behind bars in Britain; they send to us, over here, some of the worst offenders. One of the men was waiting for a deportation order to come through. Nationals account for a mere one in eight inmates. It's costing the taxpayer a staggering amount, almost four million pounds per year, and we are in dire need of funds to extend the secure units.'

Langton listened, but hardly paid any attention to the figures. The man obviously did need to make excuses for what had happened.

I would like to interview the two men involved in the murder of Arthur Murphy.'

I'm afraid that won't be possible.'

Why not?'

For legal reasons.'

But I need information. These two men may be connected to the brutal murder of a young woman and her two-year-old child. If you can't let me talk to them now, then when can I gain access to them?'

When we have completed our investigation. They are held here in isolation, and until we have all the facts, we cannot allow anyone to interview them. We cannot afford any bad press-'

Langton interrupted, his voice harsh. I am not the bloody press, but let me tell you, if you do not give me access to both these men then I will make a public statement.' Anna could see the muscles in his neck twitching as he tried to control his rage. Arthur Murphy's sister has been brutally murdered and her child's body fed to the pigs. Now, if you are refusing to allow me to question these two men, you are-'

I am sorry, Detective Chief Inspector Langton, but-'

No buts!'

I am aware of your investigation. I have your report in front of me as to why you wished to speak with Arthur Murphy, but I have to tell you that one of the men involved in his attack has been in prison for over three years and the other almost six months, so I cannot see how they could give you any details about your case. The local police have obviously been informed and these men will be held in police custody eventually.'

In all the time she had known Langton, Anna had never seen him so angry. He had his fists clenched and looked as if he might swing a punch at the Governor. He jabbed the air with his finger very close to the man's face.

You have just sat there giving me a load of facts and figures. Well, my facts are this: Arthur Murphy was scum, a rapist and a killer. I don't give a fuck about him; what I need to know is why these two men attacked him. If they are sex offenders, like Murphy, you know as well as I do that they protect each other; discuss their filthy antics with each other. Why knife him? They're sex offenders, child sex offenders! Right now, I have a suspect on the loose and two small children at risk, a suspect who has...'

Langton suddenly went chalk-white and had to sit back in his chair. His face glistened with sweat. He took out some pills and asked for a glass of water.

Anna leaned close to him. Are you all right?'

Langton nodded, taking pill after pill, gulping at the water. The prison Governor remained silent, then got up and excused himself, leaving them alone.

Do you want to lie down?' Anna asked. He shook his head, then leaned forwards, bending his head down low. She watched him gasp for breath. It was some time before he slowly leaned back, his eyes closed.

When the Governor returned, he was sweating almost as much as Langton. I'm sorry. I am acting on orders from the Home Office. However, considering the seriousness of your enquiry, I will allow you access to each prisoner, for ten minutes.'

Thank you,' Langton said quietly.

The Governor moved to sit back behind his desk. Prisoner 3457, D Wing, is called Courtney Ransford. He is here after escaping from Ford Open prison in 2001; he was picked up for murder two years later. This is his record sheet.'

Langton reached over for the papers. Anna stood up to read over his shoulder.

The second man involved is an illegal immigrant waiting for a deportation order, Eamon Krasiniqe.'

Langton looked up in shock. What?' The man he had arrested for the murder of Carly Ann North was also called Krasiniqe. As Eamon Krasiniqe's file was passed over, he skimmed the pages. He turned to Anna, pointing to the name. There was no mention of siblings or family.

Can you check if this man is related to Idris Krasiniqe, sent down for murder? There's no mention of family living here.' The connection was shattering to Langton; he simply could not believe it.

We have no documentation on his background. He came into Britain on a forged passport, so even his name could be a fake; it's quite possible that others are using the same name and same papers. We were in the process of trying to discover exactly how he entered the UK and from where. He was charged with drug dealing and abduction of a fourteen-year-old girl.'

Jesus Christ,' Langton muttered.

We obviously stripped both their cells, and found nothing that gave us any indication of why it had happened. There is also something that I think I should tell you. One of the reasons we have been in discussions with the Home Office about this situation, and why we cannot allow it to be made public...I mentioned to you how many foreign inmates we have, and how many are of ethnic origin.'

Yes, yes.' Langton was hoping he would not have to listen to another lengthy facts and figures' monologue.

Two days ago, during his recreational period, Krasiniqe asked to make a phone call. He had only a few pence left on his phone card, so wanted to make a reverse charge call. This was denied. The following day, he had acquired enough money to make a call. He was waiting some time, as the phone on his wing was in use. Krasiniqe became very abusive about waiting, as he said it was a very important call. The officer on the wing gave instructions for the prisoners ahead of him to get a move on, or the recreational period would be up. This is the reason we are aware of the call. He finally got to make it; according to the duty officer, it was after the call that he started to act oddly.'

Oddly?'

Yes. He became very subdued, and when told to return to his cell, he appeared to be very disorientated. He was led to his cell, and lock-up went ahead. During the night, the officers reported that he was not in his bed, but standing up. He was told three times to go to his bed, but made no answer. The following morning, he was still subdued and didn't eat. During recreation-'

The phone call: you record all outgoing calls, right?'

Well yes, but you know we have hundreds per day. We did find on a cigarette packet a phone number; it could have been the one dialled by Krasiniqe. It's a mobile phone number; no name.' He passed over the report of the contents of both prisoners' cells, and Langton copied down the number that was listed.

Langton was then shown photographs of the body of Arthur Murphy. The knife had cut his throat in one slice.

The Governor gathered up the reports and photographs. Krasiniqe has not really spoken since the attack. He is vacant and submissive, and does not seem to recall anything of the incident.' Langton sipped a glass of water as the Governor continued. The other accused, Courtney Ransford, has made a statement that he was coerced into holding Murphy down whilst Krasiniqe cut his throat.'

He licked his lips, stacking the reports on his desk, packing them neatly into the files. He claims that Krasiniqe was "zombied" and if he didn't help him, he would suffer the same fate. Do you know what zombied means?'

Langton looked to Anna and then back to the Governor.

It's a voodoo term,' the man explained, the ability to make someone appear like a zombie. It sounds incredible, I know, but if somehow Krasiniqe was got at, and if his belief is strong enough, then God only knows what the mind will do. Surely now you can understand: if this was made public inside here, it would create havoc.'