Annie smiled when he handed her the drink. “I’ll give you a lift home,” she said. “How’s that for an offer?”

“Best I’ve had all day. But it’s out of your way.”

“That’s just the kind of person I am. Now, tell me about Danny Caxton. He seemed so nice on the telly. I mean, in an avuncular sort of way. I didn’t fancy him or anything.”

“Yeah, he’s everybody’s dirty uncle. He’s arrogant, foul-mouthed and he has no sense of remorse. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he’s raped dozens of young girls over his career.”

“Well, there’s an open mind for you.”

“Oh, I’ll keep an open mind, all right. And he’ll get a fair trial, if it ever comes to court. The odds are probably in his favor. It’s the other bloke that interests me at the moment.”

“What other bloke?”

“I told you there were two rapists. According to Linda, the other was a bit younger than Caxton, and Caxton seemed happy to share the spoils with him. I’d like to know why. And who he was, of course. And what’s happened to him.”

“Is there a way to find out after all this time?”

“I think so. Linda Palmer remembers seeing a photograph of the same man some time after her ordeal, maybe in October 1967, though she can’t remember where she saw it. She says she’s certain he wasn’t famous, so I’m just wondering if she saw it in the local newspaper or something. At least that’s a place to start.”

“But the rape took place in Blackpool.”

“That’s because Caxton was in a summer show there. He actually lived near Otley at the time, just outside Leeds, and according to our records he appeared in panto at the Bradford Alhambra that Christmas. Puss in Boots.”

“Christ, I used to hate pantos,” said Annie.

“I wouldn’t have imagined you got to very many, living in the artists’ colony and all.”

“It was my uncle and aunt. They always worried about me not having a normal childhood, and that was one of the ways they remedied it, by taking me to the panto in Newquay every Christmas. Normal. Panto. I ask you.”

Banks laughed.

“Maybe she saw him on telly or in a pop music magazine?”

“I don’t think so,” Banks said. “She seemed adamant that she didn’t know him and hadn’t seen him before. I don’t believe he was a public figure. I think he may have been some sort of aide to Caxton. I would imagine panto would provide just as good a hunting ground as summer season, so we’ll be trying to track down any incidents there, too. If I could find the photo she saw, maybe she’d recognize him, then we’d have an ID, at least.”