Carmody attempted a weak grin.

‘Yeah, you might say that, sir. I was gettin’ trouble from wan o’ the chef’s lads at the Hotel Oslo where I was workin’. He wen’ to clock me. So I had to defend meself. It’s what any Irishman would do, isn’t it? It was pure self-defence. That’s God’s truth, sir. But these Germans won’t believe anythin’ I say, and the other lad’s tellin’ lies.’

Swallow nodded gravely.

‘Well, it’s not just that, Michael. The fight at work is one thing. I hear you have a habit of fighting with employees in kitchens. But it seems you weren’t truthful to the police here about your record. You claimed you had no convictions. They checked with us, and we had to tell them what we had in our files. So now you’re in for a long sentence for trying to mislead the police and the courts. It could be ten years before you see daylight.’

Swallow was exaggerating wildly. He hoped that Carmody had no great knowledge of German criminal law.

There was a long silence. The prisoner shifted uneasily on the bunk. He squinted inquisitively at his visitor.

‘I don’t think it’d be that bad, Mr Swalla’. They might put me away for a bit, but ten years? Nah, I doubt that. So, why are you here?’

Swallow smiled. Michael Carmody was no fool and he didn’t frighten easily, even if he was locked up in a foreign police cell.

‘I can tell you that I’m here to investigate certain serious crimes in Dublin. But I think I can help you if you’re smart enough to help yourself. I need you to think back to when you worked in the New Vienna in Dublin.’

Carmody looked up sharply.

‘The New Vienna? The bloody New Vienna? That bastard Werner? What do ye want to know about that place and that bastard?’

‘For a start I want to know about the cash you stole from the office there. More than £50 was taken off the desk when you got his back turned, I believe.’

‘Me? Steal money from Werner? From his office? You can’t be serious. Anyway, there’s no witness to anythin’.’

‘Don’t be so sure,’ Swallow bluffed. ‘Maybe someone saw you.’

Carmody’s eyes narrowed. Swallow knew he had him worried.

‘Look,’ he said, ‘I’m not forgetting about the money. But I want to know about Alice Flannery.’

‘What about her?’

‘How well did you know her?’

‘Not very well. She has notions about herself. All high an’ mighty. You know. She wouldn’t want anythin’ to do with the likes o’ me.’

‘You were trying to make her sweet on you, weren’t you?’

Carmody shrugged.

‘She’s a pretty thing. A lad can only try his luck.’