Tait felt the irresistible creep of a smile. So Bannerman was fallible too, and it hurt him like it hurt anyone else.

‘Well?’ Bannerman was impatient.

‘Where does Slater fit into all this?’ The question was inevitable. To Tait it was almost more important than the story itself. Just how embarrassing was it going to be for the Post, even if they were the ones to break the story?

‘I don’t know yet,’ Bannerman said.

‘Good.’

‘But I will.’

‘For fuck’s sake, Bannerman! Can’t you just leave Slater out of this?’

‘Do I get the money or not?’

‘Yes, you get the fucking money. But how the hell are we supposed to do it when the banks are shut?’

‘That’s your problem. I’ll call you back with the relevant details when I’ve spoken again to Lewis.’

‘Hang on a minute. What arrangement have you come to about Slater’s kid?’

‘Arrangement?’

‘For getting her on the plane tomorrow.’

Bannerman frowned. ‘I don’t know anything about that.’

‘Oh, for Christ’s sake! I had a telex sent yesterday to your office asking you to put her on the Edinburgh flight on Sunday morning. The Brook Clinic in Edinburgh has agreed to take her.’

For the first time Bannerman was confronted by what he had known all along. That whatever he might feel, Tania was going to spend the rest of her life in an institution. His mind swerved away from the thought. ‘I didn’t go into the office yesterday.’ Some protective barrier raised itself. He had taken enough of an emotional battering already. ‘I’ll arrange it.’

‘Good. Someone from the clinic will meet her at the other end. At least no one can say the Post is shirking its responsibilities.’

Bannerman hung up and then immediately redialled. Lewis answered promptly. ‘Well, well, that was quick, Neil. Good news I trust?’

‘You’ve got your ten grand.’

‘Excellent. I knew you’d come through.’

Bannerman’s voice was very controlled. ‘I’ll not waste my breath telling you what’ll happen if you fuck me over on this, Lewis.’

‘Neil, Neil, would I do a thing like that?’

‘All we need are your account details. You’ll get your cheque. Just make sure the results of that search are telexed to Edinburgh by midday on Monday.’

‘It’s as good as done, Neil. Just as soon as the money’s in the bank. Do you have a pen handy?’

‘No. You can arrange the details with my editor.’ He gave him Tait’s home number. They deserved each other.