Tait blew out his cheeks. ‘I think the union might have something to say about you assaulting a fellow member.’ He paused. ‘And, anyway, when did you start allowing the union to fight your battles for you?’

Bannerman shrugged.

Tait puffed at his cigarette and thought about it for a while. ‘Okay, tell me what it was all about.’

‘Palin’s a drunk. His paper’s pulling him out of here, promoting him sideways so he can die quietly in some dark corner somewhere. He knew I was interested in a man called René Jansen, someone Slater had been keeping a file on. So the bastard tipped him off, thinking it might be worth money to him. Jansen sent someone to disappear it from the office.’

‘Did he get it?’

‘He did. And he also got me.’ Bannerman pulled back his sleeve to reveal the bruising on his right forearm. ‘Nearly broke my fucking arm!’

Tait was frowning. ‘Jansen . . . I know that name.’ He seemed to have forgotten about Palin, and showed no interest in Bannerman’s injury.

‘A bright light in the Belgian business world, apparently. A man with influence as well as money.’

‘And why were you interested in him?’

Much as he disliked it, Bannerman told him. About the folders of cuttings that Slater had been compiling on the three men, about his conversations with du Maurier, and the conclusion he had arrived at that somehow Slater was blackmailing Gryffe.

‘Jesus Christ!’ Tait barked, then quickly lowered his voice. ‘Blackmail! For fuck’s sake. How do you think it’s going to look for the Post if it comes out that one of its journalists was blackmailing a government minister?’

It was no more than Bannerman had expected, but still it made him angry. ‘We’re journalists, Mr Tait. Or have you forgotten? We’re supposed to report the truth. And if it’s true, then people ought to know it. They also ought to know who murdered Slater and Gryffe and why people in high places are trying to stop us from finding out.’ He drew a breath. ‘I take it you do know about this morning’s statement by the Minister of Justice?’

‘Of course.’

But Bannerman thought, how could he know? He was in flight when the statement was being issued. ‘Since when?’

‘Since last night. They told me, off the record, since one of our people was involved. On the understanding, of course, that we adhered to the embargo.’

‘And you agreed?’

‘I did.’ Tait was getting uncomfortable.

‘And it never occurred to you to put me in the picture.’

‘As it turned out, you knew already.’

‘No thanks to you.’