Nick picked up his cap and coat from a chair and grinned tightly. ‘It’s a great life if you don’t weaken.’

‘Not at half past bloody two in the morning with the sodding Asian flu seeping into your bones it isn’t,’ Grant said. ‘I’ll have Aspro coming out of my ears if I take any more. Keep in touch. I’ll be at that factory in Maske Lane if you need me.’

He walked away along the corridor to his office and Nick pulled on his coat and cap and went downstairs to the main entrance. Chuck Lazer leaned in a corner, eyes closed.

Nick nodded to the desk sergeant and touched Lazer on the shoulder. ‘Let’s go, America.’

He moved out through the glass doors and paused at the top of the main steps beside a tall pillar, pulling up his collar against the rain.

‘What happens now?’ Lazer demanded as he joined him.

Nick grinned. ‘For you, bed. I’ll drop you off at your place. I’m still on duty till six and a lot later than that if I don’t find Garvald.’

‘It’s that important, is it?’

Chuck Lazer hesitated. ‘Look, you meant what you said earlier, didn’t you? About only wanting a chat with Ben? I mean, he hasn’t done anything, has he?’

‘Not that I know of, but he could certainly clear a few things up for us,’ Nick frowned. ‘Don’t tell me you know where he is?’

Lazer made his decision and sighed. ‘He said something about the Regent Hotel, General. It’s not far from City Square. That doesn’t mean he’ll be in, mind you.’

‘Maybe not, but it’s something to go on,’ Nick said and together they hurried down the steps to the Mini-Cooper.

When they went into the foyer of the Regent Hotel, it was deserted. Nick rang the bell and after a while, the door to the office opened and the Irish girl came out, sleep in her eyes. She straightened the skirt of her nylon overall and yawned.

‘What can I do for you?’

‘Police,’ Nick said. ‘I’m looking for a man called Garvald – Ben Garvald. I understand he’s staying here. Probably booked in this evening.’

Something moved in her eyes, but it was quickly gone and she managed a puzzled frown. ‘There’s been some mistake. We don’t have any Mr Garvald staying here.’

‘He could be using another name. A big, tough-looking Irishman. Aged about forty.’

‘No. We’ve nobody like that.’ She shook her head positively. ‘As a matter of fact, we’ve only had two new guests in the last three days and they were a couple of Indian gentlemen.’

‘Can I see the register?’