The Missing Ones Trilogy

used to talk about...’ Heather trailed off, glancing at Anna as if uncertain whether she should say any more.

‘Go on,’ urged Anna.

‘He used to talk about human sacrifice. He said the best kind of sacrifice was a virgin. I don’t think it mattered whether it was a boy or a girl. He said that if you killed a virgin you’d become so powerful no one would be able to hurt you.

Was Spider a Man U supporter?’

‘I dunno. Why do you ask?’

Anna told her about the keyring that had fallen out of Spider’s pocket. Heather nodded recognition. ‘Yeah, I remember that. Only it wasn’t a Red Devils keyring. It was a...’ Her forehead creased in thought. ‘Now what did he fucking call it? The horned something or other.’ She wagged a long, painted fingernail. ‘Yeah that was it, the Horned God.’

Jim wanted to see how Villiers reacted to those horrific images. But Reece made no movement. Jim glanced at him. Reece was staring at Villiers, but his tired brown eyes had a faraway look in them. ‘Inspector Geary,’ Jim said insistently, ‘the photos.’

Reece and Garrett watched him from the doorway.

‘Stay with him,’ Garrett said. ‘Don’t let him go anywhere alone.’

‘I won’t,’ said Reece.

They continued looking at Jim. After a moment, as if Garrett’s voice had reached him from a long way off, Jim said, ‘Where would I go?’ He turned towards them and, like an echo of himself, repeated hollowly, ‘Where would I go?’

snatched it up. His gaze skimmed over the names listed on its pages. Som

With his fingernails, he prised up the floorboard. And there it was. Herbert’s book. It was only a little thing. But what it contained was big enough to kill for.

Jim snatched it

Jim snatched it up. His gaze skimmed over the names listed on its pages. Some he didn’t recognise – Thomas Villiers. Rupert Hartwell. And some he recognised only too well – Stephen Baxley, Henry Reeve, Charles Knight...

Reece’s mind returned to the helicopter he’d seen over Stanage. Surely it had been searching for Jim. But what had Jim been doing out there? Had he been trailing Doug or Tyler? Or was there someone else involved? Maybe someone under the protection of Steel City Security. Or someone connected to Freddie Harding. Reece pushed the questions from his mind. None of that was his concern right now.

Tyler took out his phone and dialled. When the call was answered, he said, ‘Forester’s dead.’

‘Did you find out what I need to know?’ enquired the voice on the other end of the line.

‘No.’

‘Then why is he dead?’

‘I thought you had this fucking situation under control.’ The voice that came down the line was deep and commanding and very angry.

‘I do, sir.’