The voice was soft with menace and I suddenly realised it was Hanna. I had never heard him sound like that before. ‘If you are not there when I get back, Campanilla will not be big enough to hold you. Now get out of here.’

I unfurled myself cautiously and Hanna squatted on his heels. He held the flashlight on me and said, ‘How are you, Mr Kemp?’

I couldn’t help laughing. ‘As well as you might expect.’ I stopped laughing when I found it hurt.

Someone else knelt down and I looked into the eyes of Leotta Tomsson. ‘Are you hurt bad?’ Her dress was torn.

‘They didn’t get my head,’ I said, and tried to sit up.

‘Wait,’ she said, and I felt her hands on me, pressing on my chest. ‘Does that hurt?’

‘Not much,’ I said. ‘Just sore.’

‘I don’t think they broke any ribs,’ she said, and smiled at my enquiring look. ‘I was a nurse before I was a model. I know what a broken rib feels like.

Someone came running over. ‘What the hell happened, Bill?’ said Negrini. ‘I lost you.’

‘I was the victim of a police riot.’ I eased myself up so I was sitting, with Leotta supporting me.

‘They’ll be disciplined,’ said Hanna in a hard voice.

‘You’re missing the point,’ I said. ‘It was premeditated. They knew me, Hanna. They identified me before they attacked. It was the sergeant who knew what I looked like.’

Hanna looked bleak. ‘Are you sure?’

‘It’s true,’ said Leotta. ‘They shone the light then called the sergeant, and he said, “That’s him.” Then they attacked.’

Hanna took a long shuddering breath. I said, ‘I think you now hold four suspects for the murder of Owen Ogilvie. His injuries were consistent with what they tried to do to me. I’m glad you were around, Hanna.’

‘It will be investigated,’ he said, and stood up. ‘We ought to get you to a hospital.’

‘That’s not an option,’ I said. ‘I don’t want to be lying helpless in a hospital bed when someone slips me a mickey. Same goes for the hotel. I’m a witness, Hanna, and so is Miss Tomsson.’

Negrini said, ‘We have a house doctor at the casino. How about that?’

‘That’ll do fine,’ I said. ‘As long as I don’t have to walk there. Help me up, someone.’

Negrini and Hanna hauled me to my feet. Hanna said, ‘You’d have a police guard in hospital.’

‘Don’t make me laugh,’ I said. ‘It hurts too much. I’ve just about had enough of your bloody police force.’ I saw the sadness in his eyes and said quickly, ‘Present company excepted. But you know what I mean.’

‘Yes,’ he said heavily. ‘I’ll find you a car. Fleming Square isn’t safe yet. Wait here.’