He paused to wipe the sweat from his face with a towel and noticed his audience. He recognized Miller at once and came forward, a sneer on his face.

‘Didn’t know you allowed coppers in here, Bert, I’ll have to reconsider my membership.’

‘Sergeant Miller’s welcome here any time,’ King said, his face flushed with anger. ‘And I’d be careful about going on the mat with him if I were you. You could get a nasty surprise.’

Which was a slight exaggeration judging from what Miller had just seen, but Faulkner chuckled softly. ‘And now you’re tempting me – you really are.’

King went out and Faulkner rubbed his head briskly. ‘I’m beginning to get you for breakfast, dinner and tea. Rather boring.’

‘I can’t help that,’ Miller said and produced Grace Packard’s gloves from his pocket. ‘Recognize these?’

Faulkner examined them and sighed. ‘Don’t tell me. I left them at Sam Harkness’s coffee stall in Regent Square last night. As I remember, I pulled them out of my pocket when looking for some loose change. He said something about them not being my style.’

‘And you told him they belonged to your fiancée.’

‘I know, Miller, very naughty of me. They were the Packard girl’s. She left them at the flat.’

‘Why did you lie about it to Harkness?’

‘Be your age – why should I discuss my private affairs with him?’

‘You’ve never seemed to show that kind of reluctance before.’

Faulkner’s face went dark. ‘Anything else, because if not I’d like to get on with my work-out?’

‘You’ve had that. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Faulkner. A hell of a lot.’

‘I see. Am I going to be arrested?’

‘That remains to be seen.’

‘So I’m still a free agent?’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I’ll be here for another twenty minutes, Miller. After that I’ll shower for five minutes, dress and take a taxi to my flat. If I have to see you, I’ll see you there and nowhere else. Now good morning to you.’

He turned and stalked across the mat to the mirrors, positioned himself and started to practice front kicks. Strangely enough Miller didn’t feel angry at all. In any case the flat would be preferable to the judo centre for the kind of conversation he envisaged. The important thing was that there was something there, something to be brought into the light. He was certain of that now. He turned and went out quickly, his stomach hollow with excitement.

15

The Gunner came awake slowly, yawned and stretched his arms. For a moment he stared blankly around him, wondering where he was and then he remembered.

It was quiet there in the comfortable old living-room – so quiet that he could hear the clock ticking and the soft patter of the rain as it drifted against the window.