Not for the first time this evening, Bill wondered whether he was actually awake. The police offering their John a job sounded like something straight out of a bizarre dream. "I'll let 'im know..." he said awkwardly. If John ended up working for the police, the kid had really made a u-turn. Bill wasn't sure how he'd feel about it.

"Angus McLeod is 'is name," he said. "The slimiest eel that was ever seen in Whitby. I saw 'im chattin' up t' barmaid like ruinin' one woman wasn't enough. I know I shouldn't 'ave punched 'im, but, well... I don't know if ye 'ave bairns of yer own, ser, but if ye do, ye'll understand."