Miller crumpled the sheet of paper he was holding into a ball of paper and Grant lost his temper. ‘Just let me put you straight on one or two things before you go. In this town alone crime has quadrupled over the past seven years. We’ve a clear-up rate for housebreaking of sixteen per cent, the average week in the C.I.D. is seventy hours and you want to waste your time on a thing like this? Go on, get out of here and get on with some work.’

Miller went back into the outer office and sat down at his desk. Jack Brady came across, a sympathetic grin on his face, and leaned against the wall as he filled his pipe.

‘You did ask for it, you know.’

Miller sighed and ran his hands over his face. ‘I’m right, Jack – I know I am.’

‘Perhaps you are, but I fail to see what you can do about it until something happens. Did you see that note I left for you?’

‘This one?’ Miller picked a sheet of paper from his In-tray.

‘That’s right. It came in half an hour ago. You did say you wanted to know of anything concerning Chuck Lazer’s place, didn’t you?’

Miller read the report quickly and then picked up the telephone. ‘Get me the District Inspector for the R.S.P.C.A.’ He looked up at Brady. ‘This could mean trouble.’

‘That’s what I thought.’

A voice clicked in on the other end of the wire. ‘Forbes here.’

‘Good morning, Inspector. Detective Sergeant Miller, Central C.I.D. You’ve sent us a routine report on two poisoned dogs – Dalmatians. I wonder if you’d mind telling me what happened?’

‘We got a call from a Mr Lazer of the Berkley Club in Cork Square at nine o’clock this morning. He found his dogs dead in the alley at the side of the club. Arsenical poisoning, which was why I reported it.’

‘Did he have any idea who was responsible?’

‘He said very little. He was obviously quite distressed – and I don’t blame him. They were beautiful animals.’

Miller thanked him and replaced the receiver.

‘What do you think,’ Brady said, ‘a declaration of war?’

‘I should imagine so.’ Miller stood up and took down his trenchcoat from the stand. ‘We’d better go round and see if we can damp down this little affair before it bursts into flame.’

Chuck Lazer was sitting at the piano in the empty casino, a glass at his elbow. He gave a tired grin when Miller and Brady entered and kept right on playing.

‘Bad news travels fast.’

‘It certainly does,’ Miller said. ‘Why didn’t you let me know?’

‘My affair.’

‘Not in my book.’ Miller pulled a chair forward and sat astride it, arms resting on the back. ‘He’s going to squeeze you out, Chuck. This is only the first step.’