To hell with the non-disclosure agreement. Ben told him about the meeting, the contracts, and the trip to Tír Mallacht. To save his own embarrassment, he omitted the kid’s little song and dance at sundown. He shared their first sighting of the man in the far field, but not his appearance outside Chloe’s home. He still couldn’t explain it to himself, never mind somebody else.

Barry listened. He scratched down notes. Ben would have liked to have had Chloe by his side, but maybe it was for the best. Too much talk of the creeper might have crippled the detective’s trust in him. It was unlikely that the Guards had a fairy-tale division for apprehending disorderly superstitions.

‘I have had some dealings with Alec Sparling,’ Barry said. ‘I’m sure you understand that I can’t go into any further details. These are sensitive matters, Mr French. What exactly is it that you’re accusing him of doing? From what you’ve just told me, the man isn’t guilty of any crime.’

‘I don’t know yet,’ Ben replied. ‘I just want to talk to him.’

‘I see. I suppose there isn’t much harm in that.’

Ben realised how ridiculous he must have sounded. He had agreed to work for someone without checking their credentials and now that man had backed out of their arrangement. It hardly merited contacting a detective. He was like a teary-eyed schoolboy, whining that the other kids weren’t playing fair.

‘Okay,’ Barry said, ‘here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to give you Alec Sparling’s address, and in return for this I want you to keep our talk today to yourself. Don’t mention to the man that you even know who I am. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, Detective, I get you.’

‘And you’ll contact me immediately afterwards, won’t you?’ he added.

‘Yes, immediately afterwards,’ Ben agreed.

‘Alec Sparling is an unusually private man. It’s all very well giving you the coordinates to his home but that doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to get past the front gate.’

‘Okay, good to know. We’ll find a way.’

‘A way that won’t have you up in court for trespassing, I hope,’ Barry said.

‘No, nothing like that, Detective,’ Ben said unconvincingly. ‘I’m sure he’ll let us in for a chat. He doesn’t seem so bad.’

‘That’s where I think, Mr French, you would be very much mistaken.’

*

Ben rapped faintly on the door, ‘Chloe,’ he called in a loud whisper.