‘I was hired with a very specific intent: locate Mr Olsen in such a way that he could be removed without suspicion. I did as I was asked and I always understood that it would mean I would be complicit in a serious crime. The client and I were locked together in this venture for quite some time. Your involvement was late in the process and up until the moment you pulled that trigger you had neither committed nor instigated any crime. You could have reacted in a number of different ways. You were a variable.’

‘How did your client know you wouldn’t rat him out? You could have shopped him the moment he asked you.’

‘I could. But people use private investigators in this country for a number of reasons. The classic is the suspicious husband who would have me track his wife in order to capture photos of her infidelity, like some voyeur-for-hire. Then there are the commercial enterprises who are losing money to fraudsters or thieves and suspect an inside involvement but have no desire for the damage to a reputation that comes with a police investigation. That was where I started out. Now I work as someone who finds people that either the authorities cannot or, more often these days, where the person hiring me wishes to find the person instead of the police.’

‘Instead of the police? Why would you want to do that?’

‘You’re not a naïve man, Mr Evans. I think you know what I mean. There are plenty of examples of a person wronged by another where the judicial system cannot offer suitable satisfaction. The people that hire me are often looking to find their own form of closure. Something more befitting the crime.’

‘Befitting?’

‘Take our Mr Olsen. He committed a number of offences and a good police investigation and conviction would have seen a sentence of between twelve to fifteen years in prison. The last time he was convicted on such charges he pled guilty, he was given credit for that and his sentence was reduced. The likelihood is that he would serve less than ten years. Mr Olsen was prolific and determined and he would be released to offend again. The only way to make the world a safer and better place in regards to that man was to take the action you did.’

‘And murder him.’ Murder. The word caught in Danny’s throat. He took a hurried swig of his drink, suddenly wishing he had opted for something stronger.

‘I don’t clear up after murderers.’ The man’s smile was gone; now there was a determination to his expression and an edge to his voice.

‘You did then? Clear up, I mean.’ Danny said.