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Strength, and took a deep drag. ‘Any questions so far?’
    The detective constables looked at each other, and then back at the chief inspector. None of them said a word.
    â€˜That’s the
chasin
’ part of the investigation,’ Woodend continued, ‘but we’re also goin’ to be doin’ what in Western films they call “headin’ the bloody bastard off at the pass”. A team led by Sergeant Paniatowski an’ me will be pullin’ in any known deviants in the area.’ He paused again, and looked across at Rutter. ‘Any idea where Monika is at this moment, Bob?’
    Rutter look distinctly uncomfortable. ‘I believe she’s sifting through all the information we’ve collected so far, sir,’ he said.
    â€˜Siftin’, is she?’ Woodend asked dubiously. ‘Anyway, as I was sayin’, me an’ Sergeant Paniatowski will be talkin’ to all these perverts, an’ the grillin’ we intend to give them will make any other police interview they’ve ever had seem like a Sunday School outin’. Because believe me, lads, the gloves are off this time, an’ if you have to step over the line to help get a result, step over it without a second’s thought, an’ we’ll worry about the consequences later. Any questions
now
?’
    One of the bolder detective constables raised his hand. ‘What exactly did you mean by the last remark, sir?’ he wondered.
    â€˜I meant that if you don’t exactly stick to what’s laid down in the Police Handbook, I’ll protect you in any way I can,’ Woodend said. ‘An’ if you take a fall for what you’ve done, you won’t be doin’ it alone – because I’ll be fallin’ with you.’
    There’d been a time when, on entering a pub with his boss, Rutter would have ordered a pint of best bitter for Woodend and only a half for himself. But that had been in the south. Now they were up north, where a half pint was a ladies’ drink, served in a straight glass, and men – who took their drinking seriously – supped their ale from a heavy mug. And so it was that as the two men approached the bar counter of the Drum and Monkey, Rutter held up two fingers to the barman, and the barman reached up to the shelf for two pint pots.
    â€˜I think you might have been a little unwise in what you said back in the briefing, sir,’ Rutter told the chief inspector, while they were waiting for their pints to be pulled.
    â€˜Oh aye?’ Woodend replied. ‘Are you referrin’ to anythin’ in particular that I might have said?’
    â€˜The comments you made about supporting anyone who stepped over the line.’
    The barman placed their pints in front of them, and Woodend took a large swig of his. ‘That was a mistake, was it?’
    â€˜I think so,’ Rutter told him seriously. ‘There are plenty of bobbies serving on this force who’d be more than ready to go right over the top, in a behavioural sense, if there were no restraints on them. That’s why the Police Handbook’s there – to put that restraint in place – and what you’ve just done, if you’ll forgive me for saying so, sir, is give the rogue element virtual licence to act in any way it wants to.’
    â€˜What I’ve just done is increase the chances of gettin’ that little girl back alive,’ Woodend told him. ‘An’ however slim that chance may be, I still think it’s one worth takin’.’ He looked around the bar, to see if they could be overheard, then continued, ‘Movin’ on. What was all that bollocks you gave me in the briefin’ about Monika siftin’ through the information we’ve got so far. There’s bugger all information
to
sift through.’
    â€˜I imagine there isn’t,’ Rutter agreed. ‘But I thought the team might take it the wrong way if they