‘Keep an eye on the girls.’ I handed him the ice cream.

*

‘Hello. Remember me?’

The Clown observed me as he put a cigarette in his mouth.

‘I don’t think you should.’ I motioned to the many children running around.

The Clown said nothing as he pulled a lighter out of his oversized pocket and lit it. He took a long drag and blew the smoke in my face.

‘How’s Hake?’ The Clown’s thick Spanish accent was supposedly the reason he always pronounced Jake like this, although I was sure it was just because he knew it irritated the hell out of him.

‘He’s good.’

‘I keep waiting for him to leave you do-gooders and become one of us.’

‘Lucky for you he’s staying put. You’d never book a job again with him on the market.’

The Clown shrugged. ‘Maybe true. But worthy competition keeps us all at the top of our game.’

‘Are you in town for the Peng job? If you are we need to talk.’

‘And why would I talk to you?’

‘Because you don’t want to piss me off. You Coyotes are out there on your own and we’re a pack. Remember, this is our town. You upset one of us and you upset all of us.’ I took a step closer towards him. ‘And you know what they say about Rats. You’re never too far away from one.’

The Clown took another few long drags and then stubbed his cigarette out on the side of the carousel. ‘I am in town for work. Not this Peng you talk of, though. Getting close to my target will require my particular level of expertise.’ He gave a wave across his made-up face. ‘I’m here for,’ he leaned closer to me, ‘Adam Pants.’

‘Is that some kind of codename?’

‘I thought you would’ve heard of him. He’s a kids’ entertainer. Very popular.’

‘What the hell has he done to get a hit out on him? Handed out too much sugar? Not made the birthday boy feel special enough?’

The Clown frowned. ‘You don’t know about the drugs?’

‘What drugs?’

‘There’s a pretty big market for it in the kiddie entertainer world. My employers have it covered but Mr Pants has been trying to muscle in and start his own supply chain.’

‘I . . . what? That can’t be right?’

‘Have you ever seen a children’s entertainer perform? You think anyone has that type of energy naturally? That kind of patience? Come on. They’re all on uppers, downers, anything that can get them through a gig. They have a faster burn-out rate than professional athletes.’

I thought of Prehistoric Pete and how naïve it was to think they all just ran off shattered showbiz dreams and an enthusiasm to make kids smile.

‘Have you heard about the Peng job? It’s happening here in London.’