‘You could say that.’ Even with my brother-in-law I am banging up against the notorious Schon wall of silence. The bank is as secretive – and paranoid – as the Church of Scientology. And as controlling. They monitor everything about their employees, from their conversations to what they eat. But loyalty to the faith is not unrewarded. Schon partners’ bonuses are 50 per cent bigger than bonuses paid by other banks. Anyone who becomes one of the firm’s 250 partners is guaranteed to be able to retire at fifty, with enough capital to live in splendour till death and well beyond.

‘So come on, tell me, who are Robin’s clients?’

‘If you were as good a journalist as you think you are, you’d have found that out. For goodness’ sake, his name goes on press releases for takeovers and rights issues and other corporate transactions.’

‘Sorry. You’re right. It’s just I am a bit short of time.’

I am about to give up. I’m not just up against his disappointment in me, but also his corporate loyalty.

‘Do you not even read your own paper?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Turn to the front page of the companies section. You might see a clue.’

‘I haven’t got it with me.’

‘For fuck’s sake! I am pretty sure the picture I’m talking about is in every paper.’

I yank the Standard out of my pocket, wedge the phone under my chin and unfold it. I have an idea what I’m looking for. I open on page five and look again at the picture of Breitner flanked by his minders.

Charles is right. I am having an off day. The link I needed was in front of my nose. I was so triggered by Elliott that I ignored the lanky, eagle-nosed man in a dark blue Savile Row suit to his left. The thick blond hair is immaculately cut, rather than long and unkempt. The eyes, half hidden behind professorial, horn-rimmed specs, seem more pocketed. But he is unmistakeable: my long-lost, dope-buying brother.

‘Robin works on the Media Corp account?’

‘Robin is the Media Corp account. Somehow he’s charmed Breitner, who won’t now work with anyone else at the firm. Why the interest in Muller?’

I don’t want to tell him that I am poking around in the affairs of his late wife. But I have no choice. ‘I am not sure if you knew, but Clare developed a clever way for the government to fill the hole in the public finances, by forcing pension funds to pay tax on the dividends they receive. Muller tried to block it. I want to know why.’

A pause. I hear a hiss on the line. I am not sure if that’s some kind of electrical interference or a sudden intake of breath. ‘I didn’t know that.’

‘Would she have told you?’