‘Get your hands above your head,’ a disembodied voice commanded, echoing in the former shipyard outbuildings. Daley did as he was told. He was almost level with his colleagues, staring past them into the shadows, trying to get a glimpse of the gunman. ‘Just Daley, towards me,’ said the voice. ‘You other two, stay where you are.’ Daley didn’t move. ‘I won’t take another step unless you allow my officers here to get to safety,’ he said. ‘You’re in no position to bargain,’ came the terse reply from the darkness. ‘On the contrary,’ answered Daley. ‘If any harm comes to any of the three of us, my officers are under orders from me to shoot.’ There was steel in the chief inspector’s voice. After a pause, the gunman ordered the uniformed officers to continue to safety. Daley noted the relief on the face of his young colleague as he struggled to drag his charge behind the barrier of police cars. ‘Keep coming, Daley,’ the voice echoed, as the detective marched slowly into the darkness.
