‘I didn’t rightly care who the egg hit, mind. I was glad, though, when it hit him.’

‘So you weren’t aiming it at him?’ the constable asked.

‘Nah. I’m not a good shot,’ Neil winked.

‘Were you aware of any other plans to sabotage the climate conference?’

‘No.’

‘Were you aware of any associates of yours who were planning to cause serious harm to Lord Reilly?’

‘No.’

And so it went on.

‘So it wasn’t an accident, then?’ Neil asked.

Kelly acknowledged his intelligence. He wasn’t as stupid as he looked. She rubbed her eyes and continued watching the merry dance, feeling sorry for the two officers.

‘Do you know something that would indicate that it wasn’t an accident?’

‘Nice try. No.’

‘Where did you stay during the conference?’

‘In a campsite in Patterdale, just down the road. We all did.’

‘Names of those you travelled with?’

Neil gave them willingly, though they might not have been legitimate. They’d have to check them all out.

‘Any newcomers to the party, Neil?’ The officer referred to Neil’s established network of protesters. It was the same at every gig; the same punters turned up, caused trouble and pissed off. Kelly wanted to know if he recognised all of them.

He sat back in his chair. He looked at his lawyer, who nodded again. Kelly paid attention.

‘Neil?’

‘Well, there was this fella. A local arsehole, excuse my French. He was bragging about bringing down the government. He was slaughtered, man; I mean he was proper off his head. I reckon he’d done some serious gear. He was on his own, talking to anyone who’d listen. Trying to provoke us, like.’

‘What do you mean, provoke?’

‘He said we didn’t know what we were doing, said we were amateurs, all the lads and lasses saw it. Ask them, I’ve given you all the names.’

‘Can you describe him?’

‘Sure. What do I get?’ he asked.

Kelly pressed her mic and spoke to one of the officers, telling him that negotiating his sentence for affray and assault this time was in the hands of the court judge on the day, but they could file with the judge the fact that he colluded with the police in an important inquiry. It might make a difference, no guarantees.

The message was relayed to Neil Hardy.

‘You’d have to give us something that made a difference to our inquiry, Neil. Why did he stand out? What was he bragging about that we might be interested in?’

‘Because he said the way to bring down rich bastards is to hit them hard and fast, like, take them out. He said egging them and shit was child’s play.’

Kelly watched him. She could tell that Hardy had been offended by the stranger, whoever he might be, and this wasn’t all bullshit.

‘Did you get a name?’

‘Nah.’ Kelly didn’t believe him.