Banks had seen one or two people drifting about the house on his tour, but there were more here, mostly in loungers dozing or reading, and a number of well-endowed women in bikinis, or bikini bottoms, at any rate. Banks checked surreptitiously, but he didn’t see any bowls full of cocaine. Fleetwood Mac played on quietly from hidden speakers. The naked girl sat on the edge of the pool swirling her stilettos in the water. A man swam leisurely lengths. Another naked woman stood by the edge of the pool swaying to the music, oblivious to everyone else. At the far end, near the diving board, two thickset men wearing dark suits and sunglasses sat up to attention when Banks entered the pool area. Blaydon gave them some sort of a sign, and they relaxed back into their loungers.

“Minders?” Banks asked.

“You can never be too careful.”

“Where’s Jeeves today?”

“I gave Roberts the weekend off. He’s not much of a party animal.”

The pool was clearly the end of the guided tour. “How about the grounds, too?” Banks asked.

“Another time. I’ve got business to attend to.” Blaydon started heading back toward the front door, and Banks followed.

“Some nice cars out front,” Banks remarked. “Jag, Rolls, Merc, a Beemer.”

“I know some wealthy people. It happens in my line of business.”

“Drugs, prostitutes?”

“Very fucking droll, Banks. And now perhaps if you’ve got what you came for, you can get off my property and leave us in peace?”

“My pleasure,” said Banks, smiling and doffing his non-existent cap in the doorway. It was all show, as he happened to see that one of the suits and sunglasses was watching them from across the hall. Surely it could do no harm to lead them to think Blaydon was friendly with the police? And the suit only saw Banks smile as he tapped Blaydon gently on the shoulder and said goodbye. He couldn’t see Blaydon frown and flinch, as Banks did.

Before Banks could leave the property, his mobile went off. Thinking it might be Zelda replying to the messages he had left that morning on her landline and mobile, he pulled over on the gravel drive and answered. But it was Annie calling from the station. Everyone was working today, it seemed.

“Yes?” he answered. “Anything new?”

“Where are you?”

Banks explained about his visit to Blaydon.

“OK,” she said. “A couple of PCs have been viewing CCTV footage for the last two days, and I think they’ve finally come up with something.”

“What is it?”

“The Hollyfield area. You were right in that there’s not very much available, but it seems The Oak has installed CCTV recently, since the assault just outside their car park a month ago.”

“Lisa Bartlett?”

“That’s right.”

“And . . .”