‘They have no legal requirement to tell me, apparently. Discretion was the word used.’

‘Obviously.’

‘But promises were made that were broken and that to me seems wrong. Anyway what I’m saying is that, what happened to those paintings is what finished him. Sold, warehoused or whatever. The way he was treated. It broke him. Maybe I am fucked up, I don’t know, I am confused, I know, but I think that it will, in some way, bring him a peace.’

Lomita said nothing, not asking the question, waiting for the mop up of pain to stop.

‘Then I can pray to him at night and tell him it’s all OK.’

This created another silence in the room.

‘Then he can rest.’

Lomita didn’t want any more silence.

‘Well, obviously, there is “discretion” because if the paintings went for a lot of money or very little they wouldn’t want the sale price to have any effect either way if they were taken to auction. They’d want a clear shot, I guess. It seems logical to me. The less people know is always better. But it is possible they have stagnated since the purchase eight years ago, you know, the value just got stuck.’

‘How do you know?’

‘How do I know or how do I know?’

Ever nodded, not sure at what.

‘Because as much as I tried to ignore the business practices that went on around me in my previous life, I picked up a little.’

Lomita smiled tantalizingly.

‘So I’ll ask you again: are you blaming the wrong man?’

Ever’s food energy had dissipated, he sat back in his chair, in a slight slump, and downed the last of his ice-melt wine.

Please don’t question me don’t make me confused I came here clear don’t change my course don’t belittle me with your knowledge it is all irrelevant I know what happened to my father you don’t don’t bring your objective uncaring analysis into my life. That was what he wanted to say. He didn’t, those thoughts were subsumed into the words:

‘I think I should go, I don’t feel too good, I am sorry to be an eat-and-runner. I was wrong, I leap to situations in my mind and take them to places they haven’t gone to in other people’s. I imagine people are feeling the same as me and that they – I am sorry. I am so sorry, I was wrong.’

He stopped abruptly, finished with his attempt at explanation.

‘I have got the thing for you. Diazepam or lorazepam, both big downers, though highly addictive, so you can only have 5 mg.’

‘I don’t mind.’

Ever said, without pause for thought, fondly familiar with downers.

‘Whichever.’

She wheeled herself away from the table, just as Manita came in with the duck.

‘Don’t worry, Manita, carry on, I am coming right back.’