He moved away quickly, aware of Lazer’s quick cry, went straight up the stairs without looking back and went along the alley into City Square. Carver Street and Sammy Rosco were obviously next on the agenda and he got behind the wheel of the Mini-Cooper and moved away quickly. Behind him in the entrance to the alley, Lazer paused, a hand raised in a futile gesture as Miller drove off. A match flared in a doorway beside him and Ben Garvald moved out, lighting a cigarette.

‘Who’s your friend, Chuck?’

Lazer swung round in surprise. Already, the initial jolt of the drug was wearing thin and he was dropping fast towards a level more consistent with normal behaviour.

‘Where in the hell did you spring from?’

‘I wanted to see you again. Remembered what you said about the all-night chemist’s in City Square. You and the character in the blue coat and fancy cap were standing at the kerb when I came round the corner. Who is he?’

‘A copper, Ben. Detective Sergeant.’ Lazer searched his memory. ‘Miller. That’s it – Miller.’

‘You’re joking,’ Garvald said. ‘I’ve never seen a peeler that looked like him before. What did he want?’

‘You, Ben,’ Lazer said. ‘He wanted to know if I knew where you were.’

‘Did he say why?’

Lazer tried again. ‘Bella, that’s it, Bella. She doesn’t want you around.’

‘She’s got her nerve,’ Garvald said. ‘What did you tell this peeler, then?’

And Lazer, his mind chilling as the ecstasy ebbed away, couldn’t remember. Garvald saw the situation for what it was and nodded quickly.

‘Forget it, Chuck. It doesn’t matter. I’m clean as a whistle and those sods up there at the Town Hall know it. In any case, I’ve more important things to think about. Where would I find Fred Manton round about now?’

‘The Flamingo for sure.’

‘Can you get me in the back way? I’d like to give him a surprise.’

‘Nothing simpler,’ Lazer said. ‘He has a private service stair with a door to the alley at the side. You wait there and I can go in the front way and open it for you.’

‘Then let’s get moving, I’m running out of time,’ Garvald said and somewhere in the distance, muffled by the rain and fog, the Town Hall clock sounded the first stroke of midnight.

10

At forty-five, Jack Brady had been a policeman for nearly a quarter of a century. Twenty-five years of working a three-shift system, of being disliked by his neighbours, of being able to spend only one weekend in seven at home with his family and the consequent effect upon his relationship with his son and daughter.