Well, maybe I'll be with her. You think I'm going to die?'

No, no. She is the lightshe is forever a light. I feel her and know she is a vibrant force that you must embrace. There is no guilt, there should be no remorse, and you could have done nothing to save her. Let her go, or you will never get well.'

I'm doing okay,' he muttered, angry with himself. No one knew what anguish he had lived with when he lost his beloved, and he didn't understand why this tragic part of his life was being opened up now.

I can't deal with this now,' he said quietly.

I understand, but you must one day. Don't leave it too late.'

She gave him some water to take the painkillers. He joked again that she was feeding him Jimson weed. She gave a soft laugh, but neither was amused.

Come and see me when this case is over,' she said, packing up her packets and bottles.

Right, will do.' He had no intention of keeping in contact and wished he'd kept his mouth shut. He stood beside her as she checked her medical case.

What does this Jimson weed look like?' he asked curiously.

Esme touched a bottle with a red cross on the label. This is the tincture, and these are the tablets; they can be crushed into a powder. My husband brought them to show you. Usually both are kept in a locked cabinet; it's obvious why.' She turned as Mike Lewis walked in with the fresh pot of coffee.

Just to let you know, the firearm section guys outside are getting impatient and want to know when we'll be through.'

When I say so,' Langton rapped out. He gestured to Mike that they should go and see how Anna was doing. He was keen now to get out and away from Esme.

Esme opened the viewing blind. Her husband had removed all the equipment from Eamon and packed it away. He was now washing the body down.

Esme closed her eyes in prayer. She then locked her medical case and placed it on the floor beside her chair. She sat with her hands folded in her lap, watching Elmore finish washing Eamon and then reverently place a sheet over the dead boy's body.

Anna had taken it very slowly with Idris. He was in a state of shock and grief. While he believed that his brother was still alive and that there was some hope, he was also terrified that he, too, had been poisoned. He constantly drank water, his mouth dry, and repeatedly asked Anna if the doctor could help him and Eamon. Anna had repeated just as often that she was certain he could. Calming him had taken over ten minutes; now she knew she would have to put the pressure on.

I am going to tape our interview,' she said.

Okay, okay, but what about me being returned to Wakefield? I mean, if this gets out that I've been talkingI mean, this bastard that did the tattoo, will he be taken care of?'

Yes, and we will arrange for you to serve out your sentence in another prison.' She could not be sure they would get permission, but it was now imperative they get some answers.

She had only just switched on the tape when Idris blurted out, He loved her.'

Anna looked up, unsure that she had heard correctly. I'm sorrywhat did you say?'

My brotherhe loved her. He was crazy about her. I mean, he was supposed to just be sort of looking out for heryou know, like a bodyguard.'

Can you just explain to me who-'

He interrupted her. Carly Annmy brother and her. He loved her.'

Anna sat back. This didn't make sense. I don't understand. If you knew that, then why were you found with her body?'

It was set up.'

What was set up?'

Idris sighed. He slumped, clenching his hands tightly. He found outfound out they were going to run off togetherso he punished Eamon. He said anyone who ever crossed him would live to regret it. He was acting crazy, all dressed up in this white robe with crosses and shit, and they held Eamon down while he ranted and raved at him. That's when he must have injected him.'

Who was this?'

Idris looked at her as if she was stupid. Camorrawho the fuck do you think I'm talking about?'

Anna swallowed. She then said that she did know but, for the benefit of the tape, she had to hear him say the name.

Carly Ann was Camorra's meat. He'd seen her on the street, liked the look of her and got two of his guys to pick her up and bring her to him. He had her washedand I'm not kiddin'in milk. He then got all this gear for her, clothes and shit, and said she was his woman. She had these blue eyes, man, like clear sea; yet she was black. It was a sign to him that she was special. He then got my brother to be her sort of keeper, to make sure she didn't get back on the junk. It was Eamon's job to take her out, when she went shopping and stuff. She was buying gold bracelets and necklaces, 'cos Camorra gave her all this money. Eamon was with her round the clock. Camorra had to go do his business, so they was alone a lot together.'

Idris lowered his head. He fucked her.' Idris wiped his eyes. He said his kid brother was dumb; he didn't know the place had hidden cameras. It was all on film, so it wasn't difficult for Camorra to find out.

Where was this?'

He had a big house in Peckham, but he's got places all over London. The guy has so much money, all cash.'

Did he own a white Range Rover?'

Yeah, he's got a lot of cars. He's got BMWs, Mercedesyou name iteven a Ferrari.'

Where does he keep these cars?'

I dunno, different places.'

Do you know any other addresses?'

Idris sighed impatiently. No, but what happened with Carly Ann went down in the Peckham house.'

What did go down?'

She had run off with Eamon; Camorra had all his henchmen searching for them. She got to some woman in a care place, who was looking after her. I dunno if she really cared that much about my brother, but he was on the loose. I was scared to help him, you know, even though he was my brother, but I met up with him once and gave him some money. He said they were gonna go maybe to Manchester. He didn't have no passport, so he couldn't leave the country.'

Idris opened a bottle of water, gulping it down. He said that a couple of Camorra's henchmen had found Carly Ann and taken her back to the house. She told Camorra where his brother was and they got him too.

He tied her up, like on this altar thing he had, and he brought in Eamon.' He started to cry.

Anna waited. He drank more water and then managed to go on.

He raped her. Then he made me do the same. All the while, my brother was forced to watch. Camorra said no one ever crossed him and, as he'd got us both into the UK, he would have us arrested or deported, but I knew that was a lie. I knew he'd kill us if we didn't do what he wanted.'

What did you do?'

Idris began to shake his head from side to side. I didn't kill her, he did. I didn't kill her. I carried her body out into the car.'

The Range Rover?'

Yeah. Rashid Burry helped, and there was another guy. Camorra said he wanted us to bring back her head. We had to cut off her hands so no one would know who she was.'

Idris broke down, weeping uncontrollably, incapable of talking. He just sat, his elbows resting on his knees, his head bent forwards, sobbing.

Dr Salaam was sent for and gave Idris some calming tablets, nothing else, but Idris was convinced they would cure the poison that he believed he had been given via the tattoo. His mind was playing tricks on him: his dry mouth was due to nerves, not Jimson weed.

Having talked to Anna for over an hour and a half, he was exhausted, mentally and physically. He was returned to Wakefield prison, to be kept in solitary confinement until the authorities decided whether he could be transferred to another prison. He was told that Eamon was also being taken back to prison. He was not informed that his brother was dead.

It took a long time for all the papers to be signed so that Eamon Krasiniqe could be released to the mortuary. A post-mortem was required, to confirm the cause of death. Afterwards, he would remain there until it was determined what should be done with his remains.

It was after seven in the evening when a tired Dr Salaam and Esme were taken back to the safe house. With the new information the team had from Idris, it was agreed, without any question, that they should both be protected, just in case word got out that Idris had been talking.

Langton and Lewis were driven out of the hospital at eight; Anna followed in the second patrol car. She was glad to be able to rest back and close her eyes. The nightmarish jigsaw was coming together piece by piece, but the last and most important section was still missing: the whereabouts of Camorra. The manhunt to find him would now be stepped up. Armed with the new information, Langton would be able to bring in as many officers as he needed. Their main concern was that, if Camorra found out that Idris Krasiniqe had talked, he would skip the country.

It was after nine when they reached the Hampshire station. Some of the team were still hard at it. Harry Blunt was trying to get any further information from the bus tickets used by Joseph Sickert, but to no avail. Frank Brandon had been tracing the visitors to Parkhurst prison to find anyone who could have passed the poison to Eamon Krasiniqe. The dead boy had had no visitors; but his cellmate Courtney Ransford had. The visitor had used fake ID and an assumed name. Frank was preparing to travel to Parkhurst the following day to interview Ransford.

Langton sent them home and, tired as he was, began to update the incident board ready for a team briefing first thing in the morning. Anna began to transcribe her tape-recorded interview with Idris, while Lewis plotted out the team's work for tomorrow.

Langton stared at the incident board. Eamon Krasiniqe's face now had a red cross over it, as did Rashid Burry, Gail Sickert, her toddler, Joseph Sickert and Arthur Murphy; however, it was as if parts of the edges of their massive jigsaw were still missing, as well as the central piece. Why had Eamon Krasiniqe murdered Arthur Murphy?

Langton tapped the photograph of Vernon Kramer. Could this no-good piece of shit, now serving his time at an open prison, hold any answers? Kramer was connected to them all. He sighed, too tired to think straight.

He looked at Mike Lewishis tie undone, dark circles beneath his eyesand said, Call it quits for tonight, Mike. Go get some sleep.'

Mike was relieved; he didn't argue. He'd only eaten two stale sandwiches since lunch and his head ached.

Langton looked over to Anna. Headphones on, she was still working on her report. She jumped when he put his hand on her shoulder.

That's enough for tonight,' he told her.

She eased off the headphones and leaned back in her chair.

Good day,' he said softly.

Yeah, long one though.'

Langton stuffed his hands into his pockets. You did good work. A lot of this new development is down to you.'

Thank you.'

He hovered, hands still in his pockets. You found it difficult working alongside me?'

Not really. I'm pretty used to you by now,' she said, closing down her computer.

I have. Sometimes.'

You have?'

Yes. Mike was asking me earlier, you know, about you and me. You can never keep anything private in an incident room. He said how much you'd done for me when I was at the rehabilitation house. I mean, I know you did, of course I do, but I've never really thanked you enough. I don't know how I would have coped without, you know, you being there for me.'

I wanted you to be well, and you have thanked me, so you really don't owe me any more thank-yous,' she smiled.

Well, if you say so...'

She looked at him, still hovering. His eyes were sunken with tiredness and the five o'clock shadow under his prominent cheekbones made him look haggard.

What?' she asked gently.

I, er...I had a talk with Esme, the doctor's wife.'

You did?'

Yes.'

She waited. He turned and walked into his office. She picked her jacket off the back of her chair and stood up, stretching; as she lowered her arms, he walked out again. He had his wallet in his hand. He opened it and held it out for her to see a photograph.

This was my wife.'

She looked at the photograph and then back to him, unsure why he was showing it to her. She was taken aback: his eyes were brimming with tears.

I loved her.' He could hardly get the words out.

Anna didn't know what to say.

He closed the wallet, he turned to the incident board and gestured with his hand. Deal with death every day, every case; you learn early on not to get involved on a personal levelcan't do your job otherwise.'

Yes,' she said, unable to look at him. She knew he was trying to explain something to her.

It proved too difficult. Goodnight, Anna. See you in the morning.'

Yes, see you in the morning.'

He returned to his office. She picked up her briefcase and walked out of the incident room. From the car park, she could see his office light was still on, his shadow across the blinds, as if he was watching her.

Anna had successfully suppressed her feelings for him, but at times like this evening, they rose to the surface. She couldn't help thinking that if he had put his arms around her, she would have had no idea how to deal with it. All she wanted to do was hold him close; she wished he could be the same man who used to draw her into the curve of his body as they lay in bed together. She felt the ache in the pit of her stomach; it was impossible to simply stop loving someone. She knew it would be a long time before she was truly able to say it was over.

Chapter Nineteen.

You could feel the adrenalin pumping as Langton gave the briefing. Both Krasiniqe brothers were illegal immigrants, shipped into the UK as very young teenagers. Both had been drawn into Camorra's world, used and abused by him, and totally dominated by his perversions, his threats and his so-called voodoo powers. They now knew how Carly Ann North's death linked to the brothers, and to Camorra. Along with his illegal traffic of immigrants, they now wanted him for her murder.

They were pulling back on press releases and television coverage, as it was imperative they did not tip off Camorra to leave the country. They now had another team of extra officers to push up the hunt for him; they also had, from Idris Krasiniqe, a good description of the house in Peckham where he was known to reside.

The stunned team listened as Langton listed the pieces of the jigsaw that were still missing. They needed to interview Eamon Krasiniqe's cellmate, who was believed to have fed the poison to him. Who was the visitor listed with the assumed name and fake ID? Who wanted Arthur Murphy dead? Langton was also going to get Vernon Kramer brought in for questioning again, this time at the station.

Langton suggested that what they were looking at was a massive clean-up by Camorra: all the dead were connected to him, and he had simply got rid of them. Rashid Burry had been found in the same white Range Rover that had been used to transport Carly Ann's body. They knew Joseph Sickert had needed a safe house and, assisted by Arthur Murphy, he had ended up at the piggery. The Range Rover had been to the same location.