Rebus shook his head to both, then repeated his question.

‘Well, Inspector,’ Levy said, tipping two spoonfuls of sugar into his own cup, ‘it’s more a matter of moral support.’

‘Moral support?’

‘You see, many people before you have been in the same position in which you now find yourself. I’m talking about objective people, professionals with no axe to grind, and no real stake in the investigation.’

Rebus bristled. ‘If you’re suggesting I’m not doing my job ...’

A pained look crossed Levy’s face. ‘Please, Inspector, I’m not making a very good job of this, am I? What I mean is that there will be times when you will doubt the validity of what you are doing. You’ll doubt its worth.’

His eyes gleamed. ‘Perhaps you’ve already had doubts?’

Rebus said nothing. He had a drawerful of doubts, especially now that he had a real, living, breathing case - Candice. Candice, who might lead to Tommy Telford.

‘You could say I’m here as your conscience, Inspector.’

Levy winced again. ‘No, I didn’t put that right, either. You already have a conscience, that’s not under debate.’

He sighed. ‘The question you’ve no doubt been pondering is the same one I’ve asked myself on occasions: can time wash away responsibility? For me, the answer would have to be no. The thing is this, Inspector.’

Levy leaned forward. ‘You are not investigating the crimes of an old man, but those of a young man who now happens to be old. Focus your mind on that. There have been investigations before, halfhearted affairs. Governments wait for these men to die rather than have to try them. But each investigation is an act of remembrance, and remembrance is never wasted. Remembrance is the only way we learn.’

‘Like we’ve learned with Bosnia?’

‘You’re right, Inspector, as a race we’ve always been slow to take in lessons. Sometimes they have to be hammered home.’

‘And you think I’m your carpenter? Were there Jews in Villefranche?’

Rebus couldn’t remember reading of any.

‘Does it matter?’

‘I’m just wondering, why the interest?’

‘To be honest, Inspector, there is a slight ulterior motive.’

Levy sipped coffee, considering his words. ‘The Rat Line. We’d like to show that it existed, that it operated to save Nazis from possible tormentors.’

He paused. ‘That it worked with the tacit approval the more than tacit approval - of several western governments and even the Vatican. It’s a question of general complicity.’

‘What you want is for everyone to feel guilty?’

‘We want recognition, Inspector. We want the truth. Isn’t that what you want? Matthew Vanderhyde would have me believe it is your guiding principle.’

‘He doesn’t know me very well.’

‘I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Meantime, there are people out there who want the truth to stay hidden.’

‘The truth being ...?’

‘That known war criminals were brought back to Britain - and elsewhere - and offered new lives, new identities.’

‘In exchange for what?’

‘The Cold War was starting, Inspector. You know the old saying: My enemy’s enemy is my friend. These murderers were protected by the secret services. Military Intelligence offered them jobs. There are people who would rather this did not become general knowledge.’