‘What’s the matter, mate? Your harvest been ruined by pests or flood?’ he asked.

‘Yeah, something like that. Two coffees please and a couple of slices of Battenberg,’ I replied, not wishing to get involved in a to and fro.

‘Blimey, you have got a carp on. You’re fully turgid.’

‘Thanks, Wayne. Hey, has your dad heard anything from the police?’

‘Why don’t you ask him? He’s sat over there in the corner by the window.’

I turned round to see a man well into his sixties with thinning hair wearing a well-worn grey wool suit and a shirt and tie. His face was gaunt with large bags under his eyes. He kept licking his lips to moisten them. The suit was hanging off him slightly and his gaze was fixed up towards the ceiling. It looked like his batteries might be on the blink. I walked over and introduced myself.

‘Hi there, are you Wayne’s dad? I just wanted to say hello. I’m Gary, Wayne’s legal beagle. You mind if I sit down?’

He gave me a silent shake of his head to indicate he had no objection.

‘If you insist, and by the way I think it’s legal eagle, not legal beagle,’ he said as I took my seat.

‘Yeah, it usually is, but I occasionally do work for the Queen so I’m allowed to use beagle.’ He looked at me as if I was an advert for a donkey sanctuary.

‘How can I help you, Gary?’

‘Well, your son seems to have got mixed up with your ex-colleagues at Lewisham Serious Crime Squad. My problem is that I also appear to have become involved with them and, in a word, I’m frightened.’

‘Which ones are we talking about?’

‘Peterson and Rowlett.’

‘That sounds about right. Have they planted evidence on you? Are they trying to bribe you? Are they trying to get you to perjure yourself?’

‘No, I’ve got a document that they want very badly. It kind of blows the lid on everything they have been up to.’

‘And I expect you’re thinking of giving it to a journalist, or the police, or even your MP?’

‘Yeah, all of those have crossed my mind.’

‘Have you got any family here in London?’

‘No.’

‘Close friends?’

‘No.’

‘Then my advice is just give them what they want and leave town. If you don’t, your life will change forever. Years ago I made the mistake of challenging them and I have regretted it every single day since. I hardly ever even leave my house. I might as well be in prison. If it weren’t for my medication, I wouldn’t even still be here. Don’t fuck your life up, Gary.’

‘Well, that is certainly the easiest option, but it doesn’t sit well, letting them get away with it, letting them continue with the corruption and harassment.’