Will sighed. ‘Come on, then. Let’s have the whole story. I promise I won’t shout at you.’

‘Thanks.’

‘But only because it hurts too much. Right. You have five minutes. Make it count.’

‘Rivelli told me that he wanted to know where you were at all times. He wanted me to stick by you so that when the time came he could . . . get you.’

‘I see. So you were just a minder.’

‘I called him to tell you where you were, what you were doing.’

‘And the porn movie?’

‘That was real. He got me that job. The money was good.’

‘Did you actually get round to filming anything? I’m curious. It would be something nice to remember you by.’

‘Oh Will.’

‘Don’t start sobbing. Come on. I’m eager to hear the rest of your story.’

‘Then he told me that he wanted me to deliver you to a certain club at a certain time.’

‘Well, you did that all right. Like a good little doggie, dropping the prize at the master’s feet.’

‘But I didn’t think . . . honest to God, Will, I didn’t believe that they’d . . .’

‘Well they did. And you stood by and let them.’

‘I didn’t. I swear, I tried to stop them. We were all having sex in the bathroom in Laurel Canyon – do you remember?’

‘Vaguely.’

‘And when they started to hurt you, I fought them. Honestly I did, Will. I did everything I could. But there were so many of them.’

‘Hmmm.’

‘And then they forced me to take drugs . . .’

‘That must have been hard.’

‘And they covered me in your blood and then drove me out and dumped me in the street with my pockets full of gear. And that’s when the police found me.’

‘I don’t suppose the police believe you any more than I do.’

‘I don’t care what they think,’ said Joel. ‘They can lock me up and throw away the key. But I can’t stand thinking that you might . . . that you might blame me for . . . what happened. Oh God, I thought you were going to die.’

‘Yes,’ said Will, brightly, ‘we all thought that. And I very nearly did.’

‘They wouldn’t let me see you.’

‘Under the circumstances, I’m not surprised.’

‘I shouldn’t even be here.’

‘You’re not by any chance here to finish the job, are you? I mean, for all I know, Rivelli could still have you on the payroll.’

‘No!’ Joel’s face was white, his eyes wet.

‘Well that sounded genuine enough. Now, darling, if you’ll excuse me, I need to have a little rest. Much as I have enjoyed your visit, I find company quite exhausting just at present. The maid will show you out.’

‘Can I see you again?’

‘Why would you want to do that?’

‘Because . . . I thought we might . . .’