“Saw him coming and going a couple of times. I mean, maybe he was just visiting like the others, but he did hang out in the park. I just assumed . . .”

“What about a fair-haired lad, medium height, sometimes rode a red bicycle?”

“That’s pretty vague. Nobody stands out. Lots of people ride red bicycles.”

“Fair enough. Did you see any activity there last Sunday?”

“No. But I wasn’t around then. I was playing rugby over in Helmthorpe.”

“Did you ever go to number twenty-six Hollyfield Lane, Jason?”

“What do you think I am? Everyone knows if you spend too much time over on the old estate you’re bound to catch something.”

“Did you know the house was used for the sale of drugs?”

Jason turned away. “Doesn’t surprise me.”

“Ever tried drugs?” Gerry knew she was pushing it, with the mother there, but Jason’s immediate reaction was enough to tell her that he had, and that he was lying if he said he hadn’t.

“I think we’ve had about enough for now, don’t you?” Mrs. Bartlett said to Gerry. “Jason needs to concentrate on his revision, and Lisa needs time to get well again.” She tapped Lisa’s knee. Lisa flinched.

“That’s all right, Mrs. Bartlett,” said Gerry. “I think I’ve just about finished here for the time being. Sorry if I’ve upset anyone.”

“It’s not that,” said Mrs. Bartlett. “But . . . well, we’re all a bit oversensitive at the moment, aren’t we?”

IF ZELDA was going to carry out her decision of the previous evening, she realized, she needed to make some preparations before heading to the Hotel Belgrade again.

She still didn’t know whether Tadić had spotted her last night when she knocked over her empty glass in her hurry to escape. True, she had felt his attention suddenly shift toward her, but that was probably just instinct on his part, a natural reaction to any unexpected sound or movement. He couldn’t have caught more than a glimpse of her from behind as she made her way through the crowd. He probably wouldn’t even remember. When it came down to it, she couldn’t even be certain that he would still be at the Hotel Belgrade, or if he would come to the bar for a drink. But Faye had said they hung out there, and they were creatures of habit. The place was some sort of center of operations for the loosely knit criminal gang. The odds were, Zelda thought, that if Goran Tadić was still staying there, he would show up before too long.