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answered on the first ring. ‘Is it done?’ enquired a gravelly voice.
    ‘We’ve got a problem. The target turned out to be Bryan Reynolds.’
    ‘Oh it did, did it?’
    ‘You don’t sound too surprised.’
    ‘Maybe that’s because earlier tonight I learnt that Reynolds is Mark Baxley’s dad.’
    A momentary silence from Tyler was the only outward sign that the news had needled him. ‘You might have warned me.’
    ‘By the time I found out, you were already on the job. Besides, how was I supposed to know Reynolds knew about Forester?’
    ‘That’s the big question, isn’t it? Who told Reynolds?’
    ‘Well, it was Jim Monahan who figured out the Baxley lad is Reynolds’s son.’
    ‘Monahan.’ Tyler’s eye narrowed fractionally. ‘Wasn’t he the partner of that bitch I had to put down?’
    ‘Uh-huh. But even if he’s somehow managed to connect Forester to Mark Baxley, I can’t believe he’d leak the information. He hates Reynolds worse than every other copper in South Yorkshire put together.’
    A shadow of a wince darkened Tyler’s features as pain spiked through his empty eye socket. ‘This is getting messy. I don’t like messy.’
    ‘Perhaps it’s a mess we can turn to our advantage. With Reynolds gone–’
    ‘Reynolds isn’t gone yet,’ corrected Tyler.
    ‘Yeah, but he will be once you’ve finished questioning him. And with him out of the picture, there’s going to be a huge power vacuum for someone to fill.’ A thrill of excitement rippled through the voice on the other end of the line. ‘Maybe that someone is us.’
    ‘We’re not ready to make a move like that.’
    ‘I disagree. This is our big chance. Come on, Tyler, we’ve been talking about doing this for years.’
    Tyler was silent for some moments. Then he said, ‘I’m going to arrange a meet with Forester and try to squeeze more cash out of him.’
    ‘Well don’t squeeze too hard. He’s a handy man to have in our pocket.’
    ‘That depends on who knows about the connection between him and Mark Baxley. If Jim Monahan knows, Forester’s got to go.’
    ‘I really can’t see how Jim could have made that connection. Not unless Grace Kirby told Mark Baxley before she died. But if that were the case, the whole department would know about it.’
    ‘Well someone knows.’
    ‘Point taken, but I still say we don’t do anything to Forester until we’re sure who that someone is. Agreed?’
    ‘Agreed.’
    Tyler hung up and dialled another number. Edward Forester’s voice came on the line, calm but tinged with an undercurrent of anxiety. ‘Have you got the bastard?’
    ‘We need to meet.’
    ‘What for? If it’s money you want, I’m not paying you a penny unless you’ve got him. We agreed, payment in full when—’
    ‘I know what we agreed,’ interrupted Tyler, ‘but the situation’s changed.’
    ‘How so?’
    ‘It’s difficult to explain. You really need to see for yourself.’
    Edward huffed an angry breath down the line. ‘A contract is a contract. I don’t see why it makes any difference if the situation’s changed.’
    ‘Look, either you meet me where I say, or I’ll come to your house. It’s up to you.’ Tyler’s voice was as cold as a dead fish.
    ‘Are you threatening me?’
    ‘I don’t make threats.’
    The politician’s breathing grew hesitant as anger turned to uncertainty. ‘Alright. Where?’
    Tyler described the location of a layby not far from Ladybower Reservoir, adding, ‘I’ll be there in twenty-five minutes. You be there too.’
    Tyler returned to the Range Rover. He drove to the meeting place as fast as he dared with his vision the way it was, careering around the dark bends of the Snake Pass. Events were moving fast. He knew he had to move faster if he didn’t want them to swallow him up and shit him out. When he reached the layby, Edward Forester’s Jag was already there. He wasn’t surprised. The politician’s country pad was only three or four miles away. He pulled in