‘Just that I get the impression that nothing happens in this city without his say-so.’

‘True.’

‘So he allowed his nephew to be killed?’

At that, McGregor merely shrugged and Abbott let it drop for a moment or so, before adding, as though he’d only just thought of it, ‘I mean, it looked to me as though Scutter had been set up there. Like he was being looked after maybe. Payment for services rendered.’

‘And what services might they be?’

‘I can think of a few. Look, if I’m going to be on board here, then I need to know what I’m getting myself into.’

McGregor sighed. ‘Everything is what you’re getting yourself into, Flyte. If there’s anything going on in this town then it’s because—’

‘Ray Doyle lets it happen, yes, I was getting that impression.’

‘Well, there you go. End of story.’

‘And everything includes people trafficking, does it? Child trafficking.’

McGregor looked across at him with a sarcastic, patronising expression. ‘Aye, Flyte, everything includes that too. Have you got a problem with that? Some kind of noble moral objection that says it’s OK to hire yourself out to the highest bidder and kill on their behalf, no questions asked, but you draw the line at dealing in human traffic?’

It was Abbott’s turn to shrug. ‘So Scutter was being looked after until he wasn’t being looked after. Is that what you’re saying?’

McGregor drew his fingers across his lips.

‘It’s just that you and Doyle are making a big deal about how you control the city, like everybody answers to the Doyle crew and yet . . .’ He left it, went back to staring out the window.

‘And yet what?’ asked McGregor.

‘Well, there’s obviously another player.’

‘Like who?

‘Kilgore.’

‘But you’ve dealt with Kilgore, haven’t you?’ said McGregor.

Yet again Abbott wondered if he was pushing it too far. ‘I don’t know what you think you know, McGregor, but it doesn’t work like that. Me and Kilgore didn’t meet and never would. All my work is done via an intermediary. I’m talking about the fact that Kilgore can hire me to do a job in this town and Doyle stays in the dark about it. Not only that but the hit is on his own nephew.’

‘Well, for someone who values secrecy, you seem awfully curious,’ frowned McGregor. ‘You want to watch it, pal. You don’t want me getting the wrong idea about you and then telling Mr Doyle. You especially don’t want me telling Mr Doyle that you think he’s a puppet, having his strings pulled by somebody else.’

‘I didn’t say that.’

‘Aye, but it’s what you meant.’

‘I’m interested in the set-up, that’s all. I like to know who I’m working for. That’s not curiosity in my game. That’s staying alive.’