Behind Michael’s back, Steve would probably make that foul gesture where the index finger and thumb make a circle. He didn’t see Michael as a useful member of the team. Had they been born ten thousand years ago, and encountered each other as members of different hunter-gatherer tribes, Steve would have probably smashed Michael’s skull with a stone and stolen his berries. In the open-plan office of the council, he couldn’t do that. He was usually polite and they did their jobs in a kind of broad parallel, well away from the rugby pitch. It was a Thursday morning when the confrontation took place.

‘I’ve just had Limston’s on the phone.’

Michael was at his desk, and Steve was standing over him.

‘Limston’s?’

‘Builders’ merchants. They said they put their invoice in two months ago.’

‘Right. I can check that, Steve—’

‘I’m not asking you to check it. I’m telling you. They just faxed a copy through to me, and it went in two months ago. June the fifth. Then they followed it up with a reminder, and then an overdue notice, and I’ve just had the manager nearly at bloody breaking point because we haven’t paid them. It’s for forty-three thousand pounds. Why haven’t they been paid?’

‘I don’t know. It will be in the system, so—’

‘It’s not in the system.’

‘Then… I’ll have to check.’

‘What are you doing with the invoices?’

He pulled up a chair, and sat down so he was uncomfortably close. Michael remembered the smell of cigarettes and the power of his arms in a short-sleeved shirt that seemed tight. Nobody else was paying any attention, it seemed – but the tone of voice Steve had used in that last question must have alerted everyone within earshot that a power struggle was under way, and a weaker tribesman was about to be vanquished.

‘What are you doing, Michael? What are you doing with the invoices?’

‘What I always do.’

‘Robbie Limston is a friend of mine. He’s asked me to look into this because his bank won’t service the debt any more – you know what that means?’

‘Yes, of course, but—’

‘It means he’s got to get money from somewhere, fast, or he risks going under. You know how quickly a little firm like that can go under? I mean, he sails pretty close to the wind. There are months when he hardly turns a profit.’

‘Steve—’

‘Show me the original invoice.’

There was a very short silence.

‘How?’

‘Open your folders. Let me see your records for June.’

‘I don’t think I can. They’re in ledgers and the ledgers are filed, and—’

‘Go and get them.’

‘Steve, what are you so worried about?’