Charlie opened his briefcase and took an envelope. He slid his finger inside and opened it, tipping out a collection of glossy prints onto the desk. He took them and, one by one, tacked them onto the pinboard in the shape of a pyramid.

“It’s not going to be an easy job,” he admitted, “and it’s so big it’s difficult to know where to start, but since we’ve got to start somewhere, we’re going to concentrate on this lot. This”––he said, gesturing to the pinboard––“is the Costello Family. They made their name on the racecourses twenty years ago and they expanded into Soho and the West End. Gambling, drinking clubs, prostitution––they have a lot of interests. They’ve had a harder time of it since the head of the family, Harry, kicked the bucket, and in the last couple of years they’ve retrenched. They’re into the dogs more than horses these days and, even though they still have plenty of other interests, it’s the black market that’s making their money. They’ve gone into it in a big way.”

He turned to the pinboard and pointed to the picture of George Costello. They had taken it yesterday, at the festival. He was scowling into the camera, frightening even at fifty feet.

“This is George Costello, otherwise known as Georgie the Bull. His real name is Salvatore but since the last person who called him that got knifed in the gut no-one uses it anymore. Early on, one of his relatives said that he reckoned Salvatore looked like his uncle George and that’s what they called him from then on. He did badly at school, was expelled at thirteen and started running with the family on the racecourses. He was conscripted in 1917, actually went, which is unusual for a wide boy like him, but managed to stay out of the way before he was discharged. There were plenty of scraps with other men and we think that’s where he got his nickname. He’s Harry Costello’s older brother. Since he got out of the army he’s done time for assault and battery, robbery and false imprisonment, and those are just the big ticket items. He quickly made a name for himself for violence and made his way up the chain. The Yard has long suspected him as being an executioner for the family, and there are at least six murders we think he did but we can’t prove. For example, it’s common knowledge on the street that George participated in the conspiracy to murder Brummy Sage in 1921. And we know that he was involved in the murder of Jock Wyatt after the White Mob murdered Michael McCausland, one of the Costello lieutenants. Those are just two of the men we know he’s murdered, but there are more. We can’t prove any of it––he’s clever enough not to leave evidence and you’d have a better chance of getting blood from a stone than anyone to finger him.”

Charlie looked around the room. The men were rapt. He pointed to the picture he had pinned next to George’s.

“This lovely is Violet Costello. Also known as Lady Violet on account of her airs and graces and the way she dresses. Also known as Bulletproof Violet on account of the fact that we’ve never been able to get her for anything and none of her rivals have ever laid a glove on her. Also known as Glorious Violet of Saffron Hill, on account of being a bit of a heart-breaker when she was younger––but she’s more likely to break bones now, or at least get her brother to do it for her.” The picture had also been taken at the festival. George was next to her, scowling at the camera, and she had a hand on his arm. “If George is the muscle, Violet is the brains. Harry Costello had everything, but since he’s been gone the planning and strategy has fallen on her shoulders and, by all accounts, she’s good at it. We don’t know very much about her save that she’s clever and ruthless.”

Charlie pointed at the photographs directly below those of George and Violet. There was a row of seven lieutenants. Charlie went through them one at a time.

Bobby “Milkbottle” Minstrel.

Pasqualina Papa.

Paddy “Onions” O’Nione.

Jimmy Brindle.

Stuttery Robinson.

“Mile Away” Johnny Richardson.

Mickey Cornwall.

They were a motley collection of men, some of them in prison, all of them with time on their records at one point or another, all of them dangerous. As Charlie went through them he started to feel a little trepidation at the scale of the task he had undertaken. These were not two-bob dipsters and hoisters, they were proper criminals. Some were clever, others were shrewd, the rest were violent. They had been under investigation for most of their adult lives and yet finding a reason to bring them in was challenging.

The moment of uncertainty did not last long. Charlie dismissed it. He knew he was the man for the job, the best man that the Commissioner had at his disposal. He did not suffer from doubt. He would bring them all down.

“Pay attention,” he said. Below the lieutenants came a further five photographs. “This is Joseph Costello. Youngest son of Harry Costello. He’s been in borstal for burglary and then he was away in Burma for six years. We don’t know much about him except that he’s back and up to no good. The chap next to him here is Billy Stavropoulos, otherwise known as Billy Bubble or Billy the Greek. He’s a tasty boxer under the name of Bert Gill, borderline professional, with form for assault and burglary. And here we have Edward Fabian. We know less about him than we do any of the others but what we do know is very interesting. He’s been away fighting but he seems to be on friendly terms with Joseph––it’s possible they met during the war. The only Edward Fabian we can find who would be of the right age was at Cambridge studying medicine until 1938. No criminal record or any suggestion that he is into anything hooky. And this is where it gets really interesting. This photograph was taken two days ago. The reason he’s in uniform is because he’s just come back from Buckingham Palace where he was given the Victoria Cross. Seems he’s a war hero, to boot.”

“And he’s caught up with this lot?”

“I know it seems unlikely that he’s our chap but until we can say for sure we’re as interested in him as we are all of the others.”

Charlie gave brief mention of Tommy Falco and Jack McVitie, the other two likely lads who were known to associate with Joseph Costello. Joseph and Billy were closest to the family and the most likely be of interest. Fabian deserved attention because he was so terribly out of place that there had to be something worth knowing.

“So who are we going after, boss?” one of the new men asked.

“There’s no point in George or Violet at this point. They’re too far from the street, and she’s much too clever to do anything that could tie her into anything criminal. The lieutenants are worth a look, but chances are that they’re too long in the tooth to make stupid mistakes.” He pointed at the lowest row of pictures again. “No. We’re more likely to have success here, with these lads. They’re young and wet behind the ears. They’re all big drinkers and chances are they won’t be discrete. Take a look at their faces. Remember them. For the next two weeks I want you to find out everything you can about them, Fabian especially. There must be something we can use: a parking ticket, an overdue library book, something. We bring them in and sweat them for a bit, and then we see what happens.”

He looked around the room. They were young and keen. He’d have to work on them, hone them, but there was potential there.

“This is a big job, lads. Important. To the man in the street, it looks like the underworld is giving us the run-around and that’s something we can’t have happen. People start to think that, they lose respect for what we do. They lose respect for what we do and they start to think, hello, maybe it’s not so bad to get a little extra on my ration. And that’s just one step away from putting a brick through a window. It can’t happen, boys. We can’t let it.” He pointed up at the rogue’s gallery behind him. “We’re going to bring these buggers down, boys. This is the Ghost Squad. You’re all going undercover. You don’t tell anyone about it. Not your wife. Not your girlfriend. Not even your priest, if you’re so inclined. We might have to bend the rules a little bit to get what we want but the ends are going the justify the means. I want to know everything there is to know about these lads. The brand of beer they drink. Where they get their clothes. The type of car they prefer. I want to know who they share their beds with. If they fart, I want to know what it smells like. That’s what you’re going to do, boys. I want these lads here to be the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thing you think about at night. We’re going to bring them down. We are. It’s just a matter of time.” They were looking up at him, avidly. “What are you waiting for? Dismissed. Go and get started.”