‘Hard to say. I don’t have a great instinct for that sort of speculation.’

‘Just tell me: how did it go?’

‘Shittily. I think I caught her at a bad time. Reckon she had just had an argument with her boyfriend or maybe her landlord.’

‘Boyfriend?! Leave it, Gary. Take the memory of her and throw it down a shitpipe.’

‘But she is really beautiful.’

‘Yeah, and you aren’t.’

He had a point.

When I dragged Lassoo away from the counter by his lead he gave me a look as if to say, ‘You could have made me happy. Thanks for nothing.’ To make it up to him I bought a little pack of dog biscuits from the corner shop and we made our way home. When I got back to Grace’s flat, she was sat staring at her computer screen with the intensity of a Norwegian sniper.

‘Hi, Grace, I got you a coffee. How’s it going? Any progress?’

‘Just put it down and get out. I can’t concentrate with you here.’

‘Okay, but have you got anywhere with it?’

‘No, get out.’

‘But do you think you can crack it?’

‘Yes, I’m the best in the business. Get out.’

I left just in time to see Lassoo slip off his cushion and bang his head on a magazine rack. He didn’t flinch and fell almost instantly asleep on the floor with a satisfied gurgle.

10

The following day was a Monday and I thought about Satsuma for about five minutes before I got out of bed and for the entirety of the walk to work. Not too bad. I bought a coffee on the way but was disappointed to find that Wayne was not in work. I asked about his absence and was told that he just hadn’t bothered to turn up. That wasn’t like him; he was always there come rain or come more rain. Maybe his trousers had caused him a constriction injury.

When I arrived at the office, two uniformed policemen were just leaving the building. The thought crossed my mind to ask them if they knew of Cowley and Wilmott, but I didn’t act on it. Once inside, I was greeted by one of the partners, John Blenkingstop. He explained that the offices had been burgled last night and asked if I would check my own office to see if anything had been stolen.

It didn’t look disturbed in any way until I noticed that the marks left by the feet of the deed box were visible on the carpet. It had clearly been moved slightly. I opened it up and saw that Brendan’s documents were gone. I reported this to Blenkingstop, who said he would pass this information on to the police. I told him the terrible news about Brendan and my vague involvement and was surprised by the sheer indifference on his face when he heard it.