He knew he had a self-destructive side but he hadn’t known it was this bad. He knew he was lonely but he hadn’t called it that before. At least he knew now that he didn’t touch Lilly, that it had all been a set-up. He knew that he wasn’t going mad. He knew he had reached rock bottom and he had had enough of swimming in the shit. He was ready to fight back. He stacked the dishes in the sink, picked up the crap lying around and put the vodka bottle away. He called Daniel Lu.

‘Did you find anything that matched any DNA from the sheets to the head?’

‘I shouldn’t be talking to you. You’re suspended.’

‘Did you?’

‘No. And I can also tell you there was no other form of DNA on your sheets.’

‘Yes, thanks, Daniel. I worked that one out myself. I was set up.’

‘But what I did find was bone fragments in your jacket pocket.’

‘Bone? What kind of bone?’

‘Human. I am analysing it to see if belongs to anyone we know. But it’s only a tiny bit of dust. Any idea where you picked it up?’

‘None.’

‘I’ll be back to you when I know more.’

‘Thanks, Daniel.’ Mann hung up and rang Shrimp straight after.

‘Hello, Boss.’

‘How’s it going, Shrimp?’

‘It’s all right, Boss. You sound more like yourself.’

‘I have nothing left to lose now, Shrimp. I’m going to have to start playing CK and Victoria at their own game. Did you release Mahmud?’

‘Yes. He’s back at the Mansions now. Sheng is still missing. Mia Chou has taken over the investigation for now. It’s all been pretty shit for her, Boss. Things have come out about her and Sheng. Sheng’s family are kicking off. Sheng’s wife has accused her of running off with him. No one knows where he is.’

‘What about Ng? I can’t get hold of him.’

‘I don’t know. He’s not answering his phone either. We need you back here, Boss.’

‘Tell Mia, I’m un-suspending myself. I’ll go straight round to Ng’s. Keep me informed and you stay safe, Shrimp.’ Mann was worried. He didn’t much give a shit about Sheng but it wasn’t like Ng to not answer his phone. He grabbed his jacket and went round to Ng’s flat. He had been there many times before. They had played cards late into the night on many occasions and set the world to rights sat around Ng’s kitchen table. He knocked and then let himself in with the key Ng gave him for emergencies. He stood in the doorway and called out. No answer. There was a scratching noise from the kitchen. The monkey greeted him by jumping out at him and hanging around his neck.

Mann called out again. He stepped inside. The place was old style, comfy sofas, carpet. It was a mess. The monkey had obviously been alone for a while; it was bored, hungry. It had been living on dried noodles and there was crap everywhere. Mann opened Ng’s freezer, found some ice cream, opened the tub and gave it to the monkey.

He held his gun in his hand as he made his way through the flat. The place had a chilling quiet to it. Mann wasn’t used to seeing it empty. He went into the bedroom, the bed was made, the old chintzy curtains drawn. He could hear the monkey moving the tub of ice cream around on top of the work surface as it devoured the contents. He went back into the lounge and switched on Ng’s laptop which had been left on the dining room table. It took Mann three attempts to get the password right. Mann had told him so many times to choose something more original than his mobile number. He checked Ng’s e-mails. The usual Viagra e-mails. Enlarge your penis by three inches. Amongst the e-mails were ones from people Mann had never heard of. He opened them. They were from people Ng had worked with a long time ago when he was undercover. Mann skimmed through them. It looked like Ng still kept in touch with some of them. He wondered what hold CK could still have over him.

Mann shut the laptop. Now he was worried.

Chapter 101

My love is like a red, red rose, Ruby hummed quietly to herself.

Sheng was staring at her. She stopped humming and let go of his intestines, twenty feet of blue-grey tube spilled from her lap; she crawled over to him. She was naked, covered in his blood. She reached behind his head and undid the gag mask. His mouth was full of blood where he had broken his teeth biting into the rubber ball.

‘Have you got something you want to say to me?’ she said.

Sheng stared at her. Blood spat from his mouth as he tried to talk.

‘I can’t hear you,’ said Ruby. ‘Speak up.’

‘Go to hell.’

Ruby picked up the saw and switched it on.

Chapter 102

Shrimp was back at the hotel, getting ready for the evening’s undercover work, when his phone beeped – he had a message. It was from Nina.

Please Shrimp…I have to see you.

He knew he shouldn’t go. He paced about the room. He tried the rest of his surveillance team; no one else was in situ yet. It was four o’clock. He had an hour. If he slipped in the side entrance to the Mansions, he could get away with it.

He didn’t manage to escape the eye of the watchful Africans. David saw him arrive. He didn’t stop him. David could see as Shrimp flew past him that Shrimp had other things on his mind.

When Shrimp reached her she was in her usual place on the landing. She was agitated, more than he’d ever seen her before.

‘I am sorry about Hafiz.’

‘It was so horrible, Shrimp. I can’t forget it. Chief Inspector Sheng wants to meet with me and talk about it. I don’t want to. He’s a horrible man. Do I have to see him, Shrimp?’

‘No. I’ll talk to him. When I see him, I’ll sort it out, don’t worry.’

‘Thank you.’ She came towards him and wrapped her arms around him and held on to him tightly.

‘Nina. I am sorry, I am working. I can only stay a few minutes.’

She drew back and looked at him panic stricken. ‘Will you come back later?’

He shook his head. ‘I am sorry, Nina, but I won’t be able to see you for a bit after today.’ She pulled away and looked up at him. His heart was breaking. ‘I’ll be back, I promise. I’ll never stop thinking about you, not for one second. It’s just for a few days.’

‘Please don’t leave me now. I need you so much. You have to help me, Shrimp. I feel so afraid.’ Her eyes were fearful, starting to fill with tears. ‘We don’t have time to be apart. Shrimp, please…’ She wiped her eyes. ‘The wedding has been brought forward because of the problems with the Mansions, I’m going to be married next week. The man has money and my father thinks he can help us.’ She clung tightly to Shrimp. ‘You must help me, Shrimp. I need you to take me away.’ The panic was etched in her face. ‘Please. I love you.’

Shrimp pulled back and looked at her. He had never known love before and his heart was aching for her. He wanted to be with her every moment of the day. He couldn’t bear the thought of another man touching her, of her belonging to someone else. He knew this was real because all he wanted to do was to hold on to her and not let go.

Shrimp breathed in the smell from her hair. It was a smell of jasmine or rose and patchouli.

He didn’t want to let go. ‘Will you run away with me, Shrimp?’

He looked down at her and felt himself completely lost in her beauty and whispered, ‘Yes, I will but I can’t leave yet, Nina.’

‘No…’ She started crying.

‘Nina, please, don’t cry. I don’t have a choice. I’m sorry. So sorry. I would do anything for you but I can’t go anywhere right now. As soon as I can I will be with you all the time, I promise. I can talk to your father. I can ask him to call the marriage off. I can tell him how we feel…’

Nina turned away from Shrimp and shook her head. Her shoulders slumped and she began to cry. He laid a hand on her arm.

‘I am so sorry, Nina. I am sorry to let you down. It’ll be the last time I ever do. I promise.’

‘Have you got someone else?’ she asked, her voice shaking.