He went away carrying an aura of depression almost like a visible cloud. I stood there testing various bits of my anatomy and found that I hurt in the damnedest places. Negrini said, ‘I don’t know what the hell’s going on, but you’ll be safe at my place.’ He paused. ‘I keep some strongarm boys on the premises, so if you need a bodyguard just shout.’

‘Thanks,’ I said, and looked at Leotta. ‘Could you extend your hospitality to Miss Tomsson here? She’s as much at risk as I am.’

‘Sure,’ said Negrini. ‘Be glad to have you, Miss Tomsson.’

She hesitated and I said quickly, ‘I wouldn’t go back to Marshalltown for a while. As I said to Hanna, you’re a witness and I wouldn’t want Commissioner Barstow tracking you down. He’s the wrong sort of copper, like Sergeant Taylor.’

‘All right,’ she said, and I breathed easier.

Presently Hanna came back with a police car and I hobbled into it. Hanna said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m busy right now.’

That sounded like the understatement of the year.

Negrini drove the car and Leotta and I sat in the back. He had to drive the long way round, avoiding Fleming Square and its immediate vicinity. There were police everywhere and several streets were barricaded. ‘What’s the pitch?’ said Negrini.

I glanced at Leotta. ‘I’ll tell you later when I feel more in the mood.’

As we turned on to the sea front, Negrini whistled and put on the brakes. A convoy of army trucks passed, including several Land Rovers with machine-guns already mounted. The soldiers appeared to be armed. ‘What does Conyers think he’s doing? Martial law?’

‘He seems to be over-reacting,’ I said. ‘I’d say he’s panicking.’

‘I felt pretty panicky myself,’ said Negrini. ‘What a hell of a way to break up a party.’

He drove to the ferry and the three of us went over alone, jumping the queue. I suppose that was the boss’s prerogative. Not that there was much of a queue – the riot seemed to have put a damper on festivities. In the casino we took the lift up to a penthouse, which Negrini told us was his private quarters whenever he stayed in town. ‘I have a house over in Marshalltown,’ he said. ‘A casino is no place to bring up kids.’

Within ten minutes he had a doctor in attendance and I was sipping a scotch while the quack probed into the sore places. Leotta helped him and he glanced at her. ‘You’ve done this before,’ he commented.

She nodded but said nothing, and he didn’t pursue it.