The Clown shook his head. ‘No one’s approached me about it and I haven’t heard anyone else muttering about it. But then you know us Coyotes.’ He leaned towards me. ‘It’s not like we all hang out together swapping stories on who’s popping who.’

‘You don’t know of any other Coyotes currently in town?’

‘I haven’t heard of any that are and I haven’t seen any. I only landed this morning and this is where I’m meeting my contact for the Pants information. In fact, you need to go. You could be scaring them off.’

‘You’d better not be lying to me.’ I had to bite my lip to stop myself adding, ‘Or I’ll wipe that smile off your face.’ He must get that a lot.

‘That’s why I’ve told you the name of my target. When he hits the news you know I’m not lying. I am telling you everything. Playing nicely. So you and your pack can leave me alone. Comprendez?’

I nodded. ‘We’ll be happier once you’re out the country.’ I walked away from the carousel, back towards the bouncy castle.

*

Gigi and Florence were now in a pink glittery train carriage and doing royal waves out their windows at Frederick. I came up alongside him.

‘The Clown is here on a job. But his target’s not Peng. He’s here to top Adam Pants.’

‘The kids’ entertainer? I saw him perform at a third birthday party last week. Very impressive.’ Frederick thought for a moment. ‘Must be some kind of drugs hit, right?’

‘How did you know?’

‘If you’ve got thirty kids trying to honk your nose and pull your pants down and you’re still smiling, there must be some of kind of chemical help.’

‘He hadn’t even heard of the Peng job so couldn’t give us any clues on who the Coyote booked for it is.’ I blew kisses at Gigi as she went round again.

‘I believe him. We should go.’

The train ground to a halt and the girls climbed out their carriages and came bounding over to us.

‘Where next, Mama, where next?’

‘It’s home time, Gigi.’ I braced myself for the inevitable tantrum.

‘We going back on bus?’

‘Yes.’

‘OK. I love bus.’

‘Me too. I love bus,’ said Florence. It was good to know that next time they wanted to go to a funfair we could save fifty quid and just stay on the 94.

We took our respective daughters by the hand and headed towards the exit.

I looked back across the noise and colour of the funfair rides. I could still see the Clown leaning against the side of the carousel.

Gigi spotted him too. ‘Look, Mummy, a clown! I love clowns.’

‘Not that one, darling. Not that one.’

He gave me a slow wave.