‘It’s time to intervene.’
‘Front or back, sir?’
‘Front. It might be unlocked.’
They hopped over a wall bordering the end terrace, sprinted down a side path and rounded the corner. A marked car pulled up at the same time, the officers inside readying themselves as they fitted protective vests over their torsos.
Sant signalled to hold back before scrambling up the stone steps. He stretched a glove over this right hand and held down the door handle. It opened easily.
‘After me,’ he said to those behind. ‘Fast as you can.’
The four men ran up three dark flights of stairs towards the epicentre of the screaming. It wasn’t difficult to find. Sant composed himself as he came to the bathroom door. He prepared a short run-up before ramming in the door with his shoulder.
‘Police! Down on the f
